lawyers argue that a her client should have cocoa puffs while awaiting trail
Attorneys for a Washington state woman charged with murder are reportedly headed back to court next month to argue that she be allowed to eat Cocoa Puffs cereal and other sugary snacks while awaiting trial in county jail.
A judge will decide during a hearing scheduled for March if jail staff must allow the woman access to the Snohomish County Jail's commissary, the Everett Herald reports.
Attorneys for Holly Grigsby and David "Joey" Pedersen filed motions last week complaining about jail conditions and that their clients are not allowed to use the jail store to supplement their meals. A hearing on the complaint continued for more than two hours on Feb. 13.
The pair allegedly killed Pedersen's father, David "Red" Pedersen, and his wife, DeeDee, of Everett, last September. Authorities also believe they killed two other people -- an Oregon teenager and a disabled California man -- in October before their capture in northern California, the newspaper reports.
Snohomish County Jail officials said inmates like Grigsby and Pedersen are denied commissary rights since they are maximum-security prisoners and because sugary snacks can be used to make jailhouse alcohol. Grigsby wanted to buy Cocoa Puffs and coffee.
Grigsby's defense lawyer, Pete Mazzone, told the newspaper that it violates his client's constitutional rights to deny her access to the commissary based on the nature of the charges against her.
Grigsby has received several violations since she's been incarcerated, including trying to brew alcohol in her cell, the newspaper reports.
A judge will decide during a hearing scheduled for March if jail staff must allow the woman access to the Snohomish County Jail's commissary, the Everett Herald reports.
Attorneys for Holly Grigsby and David "Joey" Pedersen filed motions last week complaining about jail conditions and that their clients are not allowed to use the jail store to supplement their meals. A hearing on the complaint continued for more than two hours on Feb. 13.
The pair allegedly killed Pedersen's father, David "Red" Pedersen, and his wife, DeeDee, of Everett, last September. Authorities also believe they killed two other people -- an Oregon teenager and a disabled California man -- in October before their capture in northern California, the newspaper reports.
Snohomish County Jail officials said inmates like Grigsby and Pedersen are denied commissary rights since they are maximum-security prisoners and because sugary snacks can be used to make jailhouse alcohol. Grigsby wanted to buy Cocoa Puffs and coffee.
Grigsby's defense lawyer, Pete Mazzone, told the newspaper that it violates his client's constitutional rights to deny her access to the commissary based on the nature of the charges against her.
Grigsby has received several violations since she's been incarcerated, including trying to brew alcohol in her cell, the newspaper reports.
Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin pledges more defense spending
MOSCOW – With less than two weeks until elections, Russian Prime Minister and presidential candidate Vladimir Putin pledged to spend 23 trillion rubles ($770 billion) on strengthening the country's army over the next 10 years, the Kremlin's biggest military spending spree since the Cold War.
Putin vowed to deliver an "effective and asymmetrical response" to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization's plan to cast a missile-defense shield over Europe while thoroughly overhauling the army's ability to confront modern threats. If approved, the program would tack on more than $120 billion to a $650 billion defense-spending increase pushed through last year, even though a top official warned it may push Russia's budget past its breaking point.
"It's obvious we won't be able to develop our international position, our economy or democratic institutions if we cannot defend Russia," Putin wrote in an article for the government-owned Rossiiskaya Gazeta newspaper. "We must not tempt anyone with our weakness."
The manifesto is the sixth in a series of pre-election articles Putin has published in recent weeks. Putin -- a former KGB spy who has tried to project himself as a strong leader and bulwark of Russian stability -- is expected to win presidential elections scheduled for March 4, despite months of large antigovernment protests.
Putin vowed to deliver an "effective and asymmetrical response" to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization's plan to cast a missile-defense shield over Europe while thoroughly overhauling the army's ability to confront modern threats. If approved, the program would tack on more than $120 billion to a $650 billion defense-spending increase pushed through last year, even though a top official warned it may push Russia's budget past its breaking point.
"It's obvious we won't be able to develop our international position, our economy or democratic institutions if we cannot defend Russia," Putin wrote in an article for the government-owned Rossiiskaya Gazeta newspaper. "We must not tempt anyone with our weakness."
The manifesto is the sixth in a series of pre-election articles Putin has published in recent weeks. Putin -- a former KGB spy who has tried to project himself as a strong leader and bulwark of Russian stability -- is expected to win presidential elections scheduled for March 4, despite months of large antigovernment protests.
WHITNEY HOUSTON Few Pills Recovered at Death SceneLaw enforcement sources says multiple medicine bottles were found in the Beverly Hills hotel room where Whitney Houston died ... but we're told there were NOT a lot of pills at the scene.
Among the pills ... ibuprofen (painkiller), Xanax (anti-depressant), Midol (for menstrual cramps), amoxicillin (for treating bacterial infections) ... and more. We're told the amoxicillin was prescribed recently because Whitney had been suffering from a sore throat. We're told some of the pills were old ... some issued in 2011 ... but some of the bottles were from 2012. We're told the bottles that were recovered at the scene did not contain a lot of pills. Sources tell us ... some of the prescriptions were filled at the infamous Mickey Fine pharmacy in Beverly Hills ... where Michael Jackson had numerous prescriptions filled for Demerol and other drugs. Law enforcement sources tell us ... it's possible Whitney suffered a heart attack caused by an adverse reaction to her medication, but it is simply too early to make an official call on the cause of death. We're told the L.A. Coroner's Office has removed the hold on Whitney's body ... which means her family can now have Whitney transported back to Atlanta, where the singer will be laid to rest. |
WHITNEY HOUSTON Family Told She Died from Rx NOT DrowningWhitney Houston's family was told by L.A. County Coroner officials ... the singer did not die from drowning, but rather from what appears to be a combination of Xanax and other prescription drugs mixed with alcohol ... this according to family sources.
We're told Coroner's officials informed the family there was not enough water in Whitney's lungs to lead to the conclusion that she drowned. Our sources say the family was told Whitney may well have died before her head became submerged. And family sources tell us ... it was actually Whitney's aunt, Mary Jones, who discovered Whitney's body in the bathtub. Mary had laid out Whitney's dress for the evening on the bed and then left for about a half hour. When Whitney didn't come out of the bathroom, Mary entered, pulled Whitney out of the tub and began administering CPR. And we're told ... Whitney's mom has arranged to have the singer's body flown back to Atlanta, as early as tomorrow. The family was told the Coroner has no problem releasing the body because there is no evidence of foul play -- and unless cops put a hold on the body, it can be flown back East. |
WHITNEY HOUSTON'S DAUGHTER Frighteningly Similar Incident the Day Before Whitney Died
The day before Whitney Houston was found dead in her bathtub at the Beverly Hilton ... her daughter, Bobbi Kristina, fell asleep in a bathtub in the exact same hotel .
According to our sources, friends of Bobbi Kristina tried knocking on her door repeatedly Friday night ... but she didn't answer. We're told they called security to get them to unlock the door and help them get Bobbi out of the tub.
Our sources say it happened on the same floor of the hotel where Whitney would be found dead the next day. We're told the room Bobbi Kristina was in was booked under Whitney's name.
According to our sources, friends of Bobbi Kristina tried knocking on her door repeatedly Friday night ... but she didn't answer. We're told they called security to get them to unlock the door and help them get Bobbi out of the tub.
Our sources say it happened on the same floor of the hotel where Whitney would be found dead the next day. We're told the room Bobbi Kristina was in was booked under Whitney's name.
