Office of the Attorney General: A.G. ANNOUNCES CONVICTION FOR PERJURY IN ATTEMPTED MURDER TRIAL

FROM THE OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL

July 29, 2008

(MONTGOMERY)—Attorney General Troy King today announced the conviction of a woman for committing perjury during the trial of a man for attempted murder. Brandy Cook pleaded guilty this morning in Madison County Circuit Court to first-degree perjury for lying during her testimony as a witness during the trial of John Christopher Lee. Cook was sentenced to five years, which was suspended for her to serve six months imprisonment followed by three years of probation.

Lee is serving two consecutive life sentences for shooting Robert Lee Hunter and Debra Parker while they were carrying two young children from a hearing at the Jackson County Courthouse. Cook pleaded guilty to lying during her testimony on behalf of the defendant.

"Truthful testimony is essential to fair legal proceedings and the administration of justice," said Attorney General King. "In order to preserve the integrity of our criminal justice system, we must not tolerate perjury, and witnesses who give untrue testimony must be punished."

Following Lee's trial, a jury in Madison County Circuit Court deliberated less than a half-hour before finding him guilty on November 30, 2007. Although Lee claimed he was not guilty by reason of insanity, the Attorney General's Office presented extensive evidence to the contrary, from Lee's own actions and from the expert evaluation of two forensic psychiatrists.

The shooting occurred as the victims—Hunter and his mother, Parker—were leaving the courthouse with Hunter's two children, an 18-month-old and a four-year-old. The woman convicted of perjury today—Brandy Cook—is the mother of Hunter's two children and is the former step-daughter of the shooter, John Christopher Lee.

The shooting followed a continuing dispute over the children's visitation with their father and his family. As the dispute proceeded through the court system, about three weeks before the shooting, Lee began to implement a methodical and well-orchestrated plan for the attack: buying a cheap "throw-away" gun, practicing with it, and arranging his financial affairs.

On May 31, 2006, he laid in wait about 45 minutes hidden outside the Jackson County Courthouse, striking Hunter and Parker as they exited with the children in their arms. The father was shot at point-blank range in the mouth and through the jaw, with the bullet lodging in his neck next to his spine, where it remains. The grandmother was shot in the forehead. Alabama Marine Police Officer Scott Kellenberger was on the scene at the courthouse, heard the gunshots, met the shooter who was running into the courthouse, subdued the armed assailant and held him until sheriff's deputies arrived. For his heroic actions, Kellenberger was honored as the Attorney General's 2006 Law Enforcement Officer of the Year representing the Northern District of Alabama.

Attorney General King commended those involved in bringing these prosecutions to a successful conclusion, noting in particular Deputy Attorney General Will Dill of his Violent Crimes Division and Assistant Attorney General Noel Barnes.