PANAMA CITY — An interrogation video of the man suspected of shooting his former landlord on a church construction site has been turned over to a Bay County judge for a decision on whether jurors will see the recording during trial.
Christopher Hyler, 50, became the prime suspect in the death of 43-year-old Robert S. Ellison after a nearly three-year investigation from the August 2010 shooting in the construction office of First Baptist Church in Panama City Beach. Ellison was found dead at the site from five gunshot wounds, and Hyler was arrested after investigators began to look at previous tenants of properties owned by Robert and Stephanie Ellison.
As Hyler’s trial date approaches, attorneys argued whether jurors will see a taped confession that led to the arrest.
Hyler, appearing Monday with a buzz haircut, watched interrogation video from just before his arrest. Hyler’s hair was nearly shoulder length then as he propped his head with one arm on the interrogation desk, his legs akimbo.
The prosecution described his manner as “laidback,” while the defense argued it was “submissive.”
Investigators confronted Hyler with a variety of scenarios until more than an hour into questioning, when he finally nodded in agreement. Police presented Hyler with the scenario that he confronted an abusive husband and pulled the gun out of self-defense. Hyler continued from there.
“He told me that I needed to mind my business and came out from behind the desk. … He looked pissed,” Hyler told investigators. “I pulled (the 9mm) in regards to thinking he’d back up. He got his hand on it once.”
Hyler’s attorney argued that, in addition to being pressured by authorities, the care given to Hyler’s rights were insufficient for the interview to be introduced as a confession.
Investigators did not advise Hyler of his right to remain silent until about 16 minutes into the interrogation. They stopped him from talking and asked him to sign a waiver, which he did. They also asked him if he understood his rights, which Hyler said he’d heard numerous times, but police did not read them aloud to Hyler this time.
“It’s important law enforcement take time to make sure defendants understand their rights,” said public defender Henry Sims. “You can never assume what knowledge someone has.”
Prosecutor Larry Basford agreed on the importance of reading a defendant his rights. However, he returned that there was no evidence of pressure and that Hyler signed the waiver.
“There was an effort made by the officer to see if Hyler understood his Miranda rights,” Basford said. “He indicated, ‘Yes, I’ve heard them many times before.’ ”
Hyler’s defense also highlighted that the version of events he confessed to did not corroborate the physical evidence from the scene.
Circuit Court Judge Brantley Clark will mull over the arguments before Hyler’s court date, set in January.