Slain Girl's Mom Appears At Court Hearing


Jarred Harrell's Next Hearing Passed Until March In Somer Thompson's Death
POSTED: January 11, 2011

ORANGE PARK, Fla. -- The mother of slain 7-year-old Somer Thompson was in court Tuesday morning for a pretrial hearing for the man accused of murdering her daughter.
Diena Thompson has promised to be at every hearing for Jarred Harrell, who's accused of killing Somer in October 2009 after kidnapping her on her way home from school.
Harrell was not in the courtroom Tuesday, and he will likely not appear in court until his trial begins.
Thompson listened to the judge list charges against Harrell for three cases: first-degree murder, child molestation and owning child pornography. "It's never going to make sense to me or anyone else because we don't think like monsters do," Thompson said of herdaughter's killing. Harrell's next pretrial hearing was passed until March 1, and Thompson vows she'll show up then.
"I'll be at every one of his trials. He will have nothing but my beautiful face to look at for the rest of the time that he's in the Clay County court system," Thompson said. "Because it's my daughter, and she'll never be left alone again."
Thompson said she doesn't understand why the judge doesn't require Harrell to show up in court. Harrell has waived his right to appear in any more pretrial proceedings.

"It frustrated me that I have to wait 40 minutes and then hear five seconds of, 'He doesn't have to show up,'" Thompson said. "If I got in trouble and I had to come to court, I'd have to be standing up there. I believe others in similar circumstances would have to make a court appearance. He did something wrong, and he should stand up there like a man and face it like a man."
Harrell is awaiting trial on 58 charges, including sexual assault and murder. He has pleaded not guilty. Harrell has not appeared in court since April.
Prosecutors said they will seek the death penalty if Harrell is convicted, which is likely the reason for the drawn-out pretrial process.
Previous Stories:

•October 25, 2010: Somer's Family Upset By Jail Calls
•October 23, 2010: Harrell's Jail Visit Info, Calls Released
•October 19, 2010: Somer's Mom Talks Of Loss, Justice
•October 19, 2010: 1 Year Ago: Somer Thompson Disappears
•September 28, 2010: Pretrial Hearing Held In Harrell Murder Case
•August 6, 2010: No More Showings, Fast Trial For Harrell
•August 3, 2010: Somer's Mom At Hearing; Harrell Absent
•June 24, 2010: Jarred Harrell Absent From Pretrial Hearing
•May 20, 2010: Prosecutors To Seek Death For Harrell
•May 19, 2010: Somer Foundation Pushes For New Bill
•May 18, 2010: Run To Benefit Somer Thompson Foundation
•April 28, 2010: Somer's Mom Sees Jarred Harrell In Court
•April 26, 2010: Oak Tree Memorializes Somer Thompson
•April 20, 2010: Picture Of Somer Appears In Online Ad
•April 16, 2010: Documents: Jarred Harrell Home When Somer Disappeared
•April 8, 2010: Harrell Pleads Not Guilty To Murder
•April 1, 2010: Harrell Indicted In Somer's Killing
•March 29, 2010: Somer's Mom: Charges Bring Some Relief
•March 28, 2010: Thousands Pack Landing For 'Somer Jam'
•March 27, 2010: Parents Relieved After Harrell Charged
•March 26, 2010: Somer's Mom To Harrell: 'We Got You'
•March 26, 2010: Arrest In Somer's Killing Draws Applause
•March 26, 2010: Harrell Charged With Murder Of Somer Thompson
•March 19, 2010: Orange Park Man Accused Of Child Porn
•March 10, 2010: Harrell Pleads Not Guilty On 55 Charges
•March 9, 2010: Jarred Harrell Facing 13 New Charges
•March 4, 2010: Man Has Bizarre Connection To Harrell
•March 2, 2010: Documents Detail Harrell's Stay In Jail
•February 25, 2010: Harrell Back In Court, Held Without Bond
•February 24, 2010: Molestation Charges Added On Harrell
•February 23, 2010: Harrell Being Returned To Clay County
•February 20, 2010: Mississippi OKs Harrell's Extradition
•February 18, 2010: Haleigh's, Somer's Families Get Support
•February 18, 2010: Crist Asks Miss. Gov. To Extradite Harrell
•February 16, 2010: Somer's Father Talks About Man's Arrest
•February 15, 2010: Suspect Fights Extradition To Clay County
•February 12, 2010: Somer's Mom Tries Not To Get Hopes Up
•February 12, 2010: Friends Found Porn On Harrell's Computer
•February 12, 2010: Somer's Mom Tries Not To Get Hopes Up
•February 12, 2010: Search For Somer's Killer Leads To Mississippi
•February 11, 2010: Person Of Interest Arrested In Somer Thompson Case
•February 5, 2010: Inside Look At Somer Investigation
•February 2, 2010: Somer's Mom: Pain Now Just As Intense
•February 1, 2010: Team Somer Gives Look At Killer Search
•January 22, 2010: Somer's Mom Appears On 'Today' Show
•January 4, 2010: About 4,500 Tips Received In Somer Case
•December 15, 2009: Massive Search Continues For 7-Year-Old
•November 22, 2009: 'Ride For Somer' Raises Money For Family
•November 18, 2009: Sheriff: Somer's Case Not Cold
•November 15, 2009: Music Festival Held In Honor Of Somer
•November 13, 2009: Tips Still Pouring In For Somer's Case
•November 13, 2009: Rock Band Performs For Somer Thompson
•November 12, 2009: Diena: 'I Feel Like Somer's Pushing Me'
•November 12, 2009: Somer's Mom Target Of Hate Mail, Calls
•November 9, 2009: Somer's Case Gets National Exposure
•November 9, 2009: Molly Hatchet To Headline Somer Benefit
•November 2, 2009: Reward In Somer's Slaying Up To $45K
•October 31, 2009: Argyle Salon Sells Purple Hair Extensions For Somer
•October 30, 2009: National Child Safety Group Offers Advice
•October 29, 2009: Community On Edge For Halloween
•October 28, 2009: Sheriff Needs Help Finding Somer's Killer
•October 27, 2009: Thousands Say Goodbye To Somer
•October 27, 2009: Sheriff: Somer's Killer Is 'Unnerved'
•October 26, 2009: Somer's Family, Town Saying Goodbye
•October 26, 2009: Community Rallies Amid Search For Answers
•October 25, 2009: Mother Praises Efforts To Find Killer
•October 24, 2009: Mom: 'If You've Seen Anything, Just Tell'
•October 23, 2009: Mom To Girl's Killer: 'We'll Get You'
•October 22, 2009: House Searched Where Somer Last Seen
•October 22, 2009: 160 Sex Offenders Live Near Somer's Home
•October 21, 2009: Child's Body Found In SE Georgia Landfill
•October 21, 2009: Mom Pleads For Somer's Safe Return
•October 20, 2009: Community Searches For Missing Girl
•October 20, 2009: Massive Search Continues For 7-Year-Old
•October 20, 2009: Candlelight Vigil Held For Somer
•October 19, 2009: Search Continues For Missing Girl


http://www.news4jax.com/news/26451013/detail.html

Pace of prosecution frustrates slain child's mother
January 12, 2011

By Stephen Kindland

Staff writer

GREEN COVE SPRINGS – A brief exchange between an accused child killer’s attorney and Circuit Judge John H. Skinner didn’t go over well with the victim’s mother, who has vowed to "stay in the face" of the man she believes sexually assaulted her daughter nearly 15 months ago.

Diena Thompson waited in a Clay County court room for 45 minutes on Tuesday, Jan. 11, only to hear Skinner grant another delay in the case against 25-year-old Jarred Harrell, who has pleaded not guilty in the October 2009 kidnapping, rape and murder of 7-year-old Somer Thompson of Orange Park.

"Forty-five minutes of waiting to hear five seconds of that?" Thompson said after Skinner scheduled Harrell’s next hearing for March 1. "Yes, I’m angry. If you have evidence, I don’t understand why it takes so long [to set a trial date]."

Several hearings – all of them brief -- have been held since Harrell was charged with murder last February. His arrest ended a four-month investigation that began on Oct. 19, 2009, when Somer went missing on her way home from Grove Park Elementary School.

The child’s body was discovered in a South Georgia landfill two days later, and police later charged Harrell with the crime after arresting him in Meridian, Miss., on 29 counts of possession of child pornography.

Investigators say they have sufficient evidence, including DNA samples and statements made by Harrell after his arrest, to prove that Harrell is guilty.

Harrell was 24 years old at the time of his arrest. He has been held in an isolated cell at the Clay County Jail ever since, and his attorneys have announced that he won’t be making any court appearances until his trial begins.

That decision has only added fuel to a fire that burns in the heart of the slain child’s mother.

"He absolutely should have to show up [at hearings]," Thompson said. "I’m forever going to be without something I’m supposed to have -- my daughter."

She said that she and her surviving children – including Somer’s twin brother -- had a difficult time making it through the holiday season, but they continue to draw strength from friends and members of the community.

Among them is Lake Asbury resident Bobby Ingram, who has used his influence as lead guitarist of the Southern rock band Molly Hatchet to raise money for the Thompson family. Ingram was sitting near Thompson during Tuesday’s hearing, and was quick to explain his presence.

"I want to see justice served," he said. "I came here to support the cause."

Ingram also said he doesn’t mind waiting out the seemingly endless string of court delays.

"It just means [prosecutors are] taking their time, dotting their I’s and crossing their T’s," he said. "This gives [the defense] no out whatsoever."

http://www.claytoday.biz/content/2975_1.php

GMJ Exclusive: Gag Order Issued In Somer Thompson Murder Case

GREEN COVE SPRINGS, Fla. -- A judge has issued a gag order on Jarred Harrell's case. He's the man accused of killing Somer Thompson in Clay County in 2009.

After a couple denials, the protective order was granted on Dec. 14 and applies to just about everyone involved in the case, including prosecutors, defense lawyers, investigators and other people who may testify at trial.

In the order, Judge William Wilkes wrote, "Pretrial comments ... have been substantially adverse or hostile to the defendant."

The judge cited intense local, national and international media coverage of the case as one reason for the order.

"To protect ... the defendant's right to a fair and impartial trial in the county where the crimes were committed ... a protective order is necessary," the judge wrote.

Normally, evidence in a criminal trial becomes public record once it's turned over to defense lawyers. But in this case, that won't happen.

The order also bars the Clay County Sheriff's Office from releasing any more jail calls between Harrell and people who visit him. They previously released some of those conversations, including one that had Harrell telling his mom he wanted some pizza.

Attorney Sean Cronin is not involved in the Harrell case, but talked about his experience with gag orders.

"I am generally against gag orders because they prevent the public from knowing exactly what's going on and being fully informed. But I do believe in some cases such as this one, it's probably appropriate to make sure justice is best served," Cronin said.

Just getting a copy of the gag order took about 30 minutes at Clay County's courthouse. It had to be approved at several levels.

The protective order states the one thing that can be released is a docket listing court dates and routine file information. It is very generic information, lacking any details.

The clerk's office intially declined to release that document, but eventually did two days later after the approval of the judge, defense attorneys and prosecutors.

http://www.firstcoastnews.com/news/local/news-article.aspx?storyid=190722&catid=3

Documents Sealed In Somer Thompson Case
Jarred Harrell's Next Hearing In Somer Thompson's Death Set For March
POSTED: Wednesday, February 9, 2011
http://www.news4jax.com/news/26805558/detail.html

Somer's foundation helps families of crime victims in Texas
http://www.actionnewsjax.com/content/actionlocal/story/Somers-foundation-helps-families-of-crime-victims/3TQoCF5tZkqZWbnGF0fO9g.cspx?rss=1

Clay County Board of County Commissioners Presents "Key to the County" to Diena ThompsonMar 1,2011 at 3:54 PM ESTThe Board of County Commissioners, at their meeting on March 22, 2011, at 2:00 p.m., will present to Diena Thompson, mother of Somer Thompson, a “Key to the County” for the Somer Thompson Foundation as well as a Proclamation declaring April 5th as Somer Thompson Day in Clay County, and declaring the month of October as S.T.O.P. The Offenders and Predators Month in memory of Somer Thompson.

http://search.firstcoastnews.com/default.aspx?ct=r&q=Somer+Thompson&sort=DT_D

Park Dedicated to Somer Thompson
A Florida first grader killed on her way home from school, is being honored with a new park. Somer Thompson disappeared two years ago, and her body was found in a Georgia landfill days later.

http://www.wctv.tv/home/headlines/Somer_Thompsons_Dedication_132430578.html