Ricky Holland Vanished

Posted in Missing and Murdered Children blog

The Lansing State Journal reported today that the murder trial for Tim and Lisa Holland is expected to begin on September 25, 2006; Ricky’s date of birth is September 8th. I find it kind of ironic that the murder trial coincides with Ricky’s birth month. The trial judge is Ingham County Circuit Judge Paula Manderfield. Tim and Lisa Holland will be tried together, they will have separate juries.

This according to Stuart Dunnings III, Ingham County Prosecutor:

“…The best way to assure a fair process is to try the cases at the same time…Most of the evidence against one is evidence against the other…”

This is clearly a he-said, she-said case:

“…During the Hollands’ 14-day preliminary hearing that spanned three months, it was revealed that Tim Holland told his mother that Lisa violently pulled Ricky out of his room and “just went nuts” after Tim suggested he wanted Ricky to stay at his mother’s house for a few weeks. He said Lisa hit the boy with a hammer.

In a Jan. 26 police interview, Lisa Holland said her husband’s moods could swing like a pendulum and that he may have strangled or suffocated Ricky, who was reported missing July 2. Ricky’s body was found nearly seven months later…”

I recall the trial of Erik and Lyle Menendez in Los Angeles, California. They were accused of murdering their parents, Jose and Kitty Menendez. Their first trial, in which they were tried together using separate juries, resulted in a hung jury. The reasoning for trying the brothers together and using separate juries:

“…On May 14, 1993, Judge Weissberg ruled that the cases of Lyle and Erik Menendez would be tried together in the interests of time, cost and convenience. Weissberg saw that there would be an almost complete duplication of witnesses and arguments if separate trials were held for each brother. Weissberg ruled that each brother would have a separate jury. This meant that if evidence that pertained only to Lyle was being heard, Erick’s jury would be excluded and vice versa…”

Years later the brothers were retried together. That trial resulted in a guilty conviction for both brothers.

“…In April 1995, Judge Weissberg ruled that the brothers would be retried together, in front of a single jury. Weissberg ruled that the advantages of a “single trial greatly outweigh the potential prejudice…”

I wonder how difficult it will be to select double the number of jurors for this case; people who are not familiar with the case or have not already formed an opinion as to Tim and Lisa Holland’s guilt or innocence. Certainly finding the jurors who are impartial is going to be a daunting task. Also, I believe that there will be many people unwilling to serve on the jury because it is both painful and high-profile.

I am thinking of the people of Ingham County Michigan. I may be wrong, but I have the impression that the residents of Ingham County are private people who do not like media attention. I may be wrong, but I believe the citizens of Ingham County feel that Tim and Lisa Holland have blemished their good reputation as a safe and friendly place to raise children by their actions and they would rather not have the media blitz that is sure to descend upon their county. Having said that, I also believe that the people of Ingham County will rise to the occasion and be more than willing to seek justice for Ricky Holland.

• Source: The Trial of Eric and Lyle Menendez
• Source: The Lansing State Journal – September 25 Trial Date Set Holland’s