Accused killer loses a round in court

JEFFERSON - A judge in Jefferson has ruled that statements an accused killer made to police before they began considering him a suspect can be used against him when he goes to trial.

Henry Lee Stringer is charged with killing his two children, their mother and grandmother three years ago at their home in Hoschton.

Stringer's lawyers were attempting to keep the statements out of court because he had not been advised of his right to remain silent.

But the Athens Banner-Herald reports that Jackson County Superior Court Judge Joseph Booth rejected the argument because Stringer was not being interrogated at the time only talked to as a witness to the fire and a relative of the victims.

http://accesswdun.com/article/2009/12/225230