$250,000 bond set in murder case

By Steven Jones
Monday, December 12, 2005 10:46 PM CST
The Selma Times-Journal
Jaime Harvell received a $250,000 bond Monday in connection with the shooting death of his 15-year-old brother, Justin.
District Judge Bob Armstrong gave him the bond after hearing evidence presented by the state - including a letter from the boy's parents - saying he was a clear and present danger to the community and himself.
"There's a pretty heavy load on you right now," Armstrong said, as the boy nodded in agreement. "I believe in the power of God working in people's lives. There's hope for you, but you're not going to get out of jail on my watch."
According to officials with the Dallas County Sheriff's Department, Harvell allegedly shot and killed his brother on Nov. 25.
Capt. Roy Freine - who is also Justin's Sunday School teacher - testified that he arrived on the scene shortly after the shooting and found Jaime suffering from apparent hyperventilation.
"The suspect had requested that I come to the scene," Freine said. "His mother met me and hugged my neck and told me her son was dead."
Freine said that he turned the scene over to another officer because of his connection with the suspect and his family.
Sheriff's deputies found the murder weapon and a .357 magnum in the woods near the home.
Jaime was questioned almost immediately after the shooting by officers.
He told them that he was going hunting when he turned at the door of his home on County Road 848. He said that's when the .22 went off, killing Justin.
Freine said he was present during the original interview and requested to interview Jaime a second time.
"I told him we knew he was lying," Freine said.
Freine said that evidence on the scene indicated that Jaime wasn't fully dressed when the crime occurred, like he said. Also, Freine said the angle of the wound indicated that Justin's shooter was above him, not facing him like Jaime said.
"The subject (Jaime), after he fired, tracked through the blood," Freine said. "He was barefoot."
Freine questioned Jaime at Hillcrest Medical Center in Birmingham. Jaime had been sent to the facility at his mother's request, before he was charged in the crime.
After some questioning, Jaime told Freine a different story.
"They (the brothers) had been arguing over some tobacco," Freine said.
Jaime, according to Freine, got angry. He then dismantled the door to the family's gun cabinet with a ratchet and screwdriver head. He took out a .22 rifle, Freine said, because that was the closest weapon.
"(Then he) stood on a coffee table, pointed the gun and pulled the trigger," he said.
Jaime's attorney for the bond hearing, Blanchard McLeod, asked Freine if he believed the crime was anything other that "a rage-type situation."
"There had to be a cooling off period because you had to unbolt the gun case," Freine said. He said the case had four screws that had to be removed.
After the shooting, Freine said Jaime changed into hunting clothes and tennis shoes and got a second weapon out of the case. Freine said the boy indicated he was attempting to arm himself to prevent arrest.
"I specifically asked him if he would shoot law enforcement," Freine said. "He said he would."
"He redressed and rearmed himself specifically for that?" Shannon Lynch, prosecutor, asked.
"Correct," Freine said.
Freine said that despite his own relationship with Jaime, he believed that the 17-year-old wouldn't have hesitated to shoot him at that time.
Before the police arrived, Freine said Jaime pointed the rifle at his father and a nurse who lived nearby. The nurse was on the scene attempting to give medical aid.
When Jaime was distracted, Freine said, his father rushed him and took the rifle.
"He (Jaime's father) knew (Jaime) couldn't get but one shot off and he took his chance," Freine said.
After Freine interviewed him, Jaime was arrested at Hillcrest and transported to the Dallas County Jail. Since there, Freine had the boy put on suicide watch.
"The suicide (watch) tends to come from the fact that (Jaime) didn't want to go to jail," Freine said.
Except for the occasional shake of his head, Jaime was silent and red-eyed through the hearing. He was dressed in an orange jumpsuit with his hands and feet shackled together.
Freine said that the boy's parents are heartbroken over the entire ordeal.
"His parents love (Jaime) but they are scared of what he will do," Freine said. "I know this."