Home | THE MURDER OF NEIL MAXWELL - THE REAL STORY | CHAPTER 20 | CHAPTER 19 | CHAPTER 18 | CHAPTER 17 | CHAPTER 16 | CHAPTER 15 | CHAPTER 14 | CRIME SCENE SKETCH - VEHICLE REPORT - CRIME RECORD | CHAPTER 13 | CHAPTER 12 | CHAPTER 11 | CHAPTER 10 | CHAPTER 9 | CHAPTER 8 | CHAPTER 7 | CHAPTER 6 | CHAPTER 5 | CHAPTER 4 | CHAPTER 3 | CHAPTER 2 | CHAPTER 1 | NEIL MAXWELL MEMORIAL SOFTBALL TOURNAMENT | WHO MURDERED NEIL MAXWELL? | CIVIL TRIAL RESULTS | THE CRIMINAL TRIAL RESULTS | A POEM WRITTEN SHORTLY AFTER NEIL WAS MURDERED | NEIL ON THE HARLEY | NEIL ENJOYING A BREW | NEIL IN THOUGHT | PHOTO ALBUM
CHAPTER 19

CHAPTER 19  THE TRASH 

This excerpt is from the testimony of Don Gregory at the criminal trial. The defendant's attorney, Mr. Mitchell, is asking the questions. Q. "All right. And on that occasion, sir, with this being the trash dumpster, were there parking blocks coming out the south door to the trash dumpster?" A. "True, yes." Q. "And do you know or recall how many there were then?" A. "No. I mean, to the dumpster there's four or five. I've never counted them . I don't know. Four or five places to park there." Q. "Sure. Now with respect to--Can you see?..With respect to these parking blocks, where was the van that was owned, the maroon van owned by Vickie Brown sitting?" A. "It was in one of the first three spots. It's somewhere, I can't remember whether it was in the first spot or maybe the second spot you know. It all depends on how people park. Some people take two spots when they park."...Q. "..Sir, when you came around the corner on that day when you walked Misty Hayes out?" A. "Yeah." Q. "And said hi to Neil or exchanged niceties?" A. "Right, correct." Q. "Okay. You didn't see Vickie Brown in that van, did you?" A. "I think I did. I mean, yes. I think I did. I don't really know. To be honest with you, I didn't pay any attention. I exchanged with Neil. I wasn't looking for Vickie Brown, you know. I mean, I assumed. I guess I assumed they were both there. They were sitting there." Q. "Fair enough. You made the assumption that she was there?"  The State Prosecutor interrupts. MR. AHSENS: I'm going to object that that mischaracterizes the testimony of the witness. THE COURT: I think assumed was the word he used. Overruled." Q. (By Mr. Mitchell) "You made the assumption that Ms. Brown was there, correct?" A. "I know when I emptied the trash in the dumpster, which was probably after that, she was there."  Q. "Well, now, sir, when you emptied the trash in the dumpster at 2:15, 2:10, 2:15, but you take Misty Collins or --excuse me-- Misty Hayes out at 2:15, which one is really the last one?" A. "I'll be honest with you, I think I walked Misty out first. All I do when the girls leave, I walk out on the deck, I watch them get in their vehicle, wave. And of course when I take the trash out, see, I have to go right by and go in front of where the van was parked." Q. "You're not certain whether you took Misty Hayes out first or the trash, are you?" MR. AHSENS: "I'm going to object to that. Again, it mischaracterizes his statement. He says he believed he took her out first." THE COURT: "Overruled. You may answer." A. "What was your question, sir?" Q. (By Mr. Mitchell) "Your not 100 percent positive whether you took the trash out first or whether you took Misty out, are you?" A. "Yes, I can be positive that I walked Misty out first because that was--Yeah, I'm pretty sure. 95 percent sure I walked Misty out first because then I have to empty the trash out of the ladies room, the men's room into this one, and then that was one of the last things you do before you mop. Q. "Sir, any reason you didn't mention taking the trash out on February 4th, 2004?" A. No, not--if I was asked or maybe I didn't think of it. I'm not sure." Q. "It's a pretty significant piece of time in this case." MR. AHSENS: "I'm going to object to commenting on the evidence. That's improper." THE COURT: "Sustained."