4/26/13 - A local judge will allow a duress defense during the trial of a woman charged with felony murder in the death of a homeless man. 51-year-old Antoinette Bea Hix of Gaines and 45-year-old Mitchell Judd Hall of Byron are each charged with 1st degree felony murder and abuse of a vulnerable adult in the death of 71-year old Clarence Elijah Hines. Hix is also charged with per-meditated murder in the first degree. Hix claims that she was under âduressâ when the crime occurred and her defense attorney successfully argued that point and that Hix was a victim of battered womenâs syndrome. Despite objections from prosecutors, Livingston County Circuit Court Judge David Reader ruled the defense will be able to present those arguments during trial. Livingston County Prosecutor Bill Vailliencourt tells WHMI his office will review the court's opinion and then determine the appropriate course of action. Police say the suspects left Hines at the side of Sober Road in Conway Township on April 11th, 2010. He was found dead there the following morning. Authorities say Hines died due to a combination of hypothermia and multiple blunt trauma injuries. Authorities say the couple wanted to rid themselves of caring for Hines due to his failing health and discussed various options to do so, eventually deciding to drop him off on a rural dirt road. (JM)
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