Landrum trial begins Monday

Published 12:00 am Monday, February 28, 2005

After a long wait, Michael Landrum will get his chance to plead his case before a jury Monday. Landrum will appear at the Marengo County Courthouse in Linden when his trial begins around 9 a.m. where he will face capital charges.

On August 27 of 2003 Landrum was arrested and charged with capital charges including two counts of capital murder during a burglary, capital murder of a child and one count of capital murder of two or more people.

Landrum is accused of conspiring with a Lisman man to kill his daughter, Mikayla Little, who was three years old and her grandmother, Ida Little who was 52.

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Landrum has been held in jail without bond since his arrest.

The trial was originally scheduled for Oct. 18, but was delayed by the defense, who asked for more analysis of the states final forensics report.

Jeffery Napier, Landrum’s accomplice, was arrested the same day as Landrum and confessed shortly thereafter. Napier entered a guilty plea for one count of murder to a small child, one count of murder of two or more people and two counts of murder during a burglary, and two counts of murder for consideration. Napier’s sentence is being delayed pending his testimony against Landrum in the upcoming criminal case.

In his confession Napier claimed Landrum offered to pay him $1,000 to kill the girl in order to get out of paying the $484 in child support a court had recently ordered. Landrum allegedly decided later he wanted the grandmother killed too. Napier claims Landrum paid him $500 prior to the murder.

In his confession Napier said he broke into the house and shot both in the head with a 9 mm pistol.

The state is expected to seek the death penalty in the case.