Judge tosses Christmas murder confession

A judge ruled Friday that the videotaped confession of a Shaftsbury man accused of murder cannot be admitted as evidence against him.

[WeNeedJESSICASla w]

makes me wonder how much that judge got paid for throwing the confession out!
"Christmas allegedly shot and killed North Bennington contractor Ronald Wilkins" Allegedly nothing!!! HE DID IT! HE ADMITTED TO IT, AND MANY PEOPLE SEEEEEEEEEN HIM DO IT!!!!!!

"In her decision, Hayes said that Christmas' confession did not seem coerced." Thats because it WAS NOT coerced!!! He started talking on HIS OWN!
WHY THE HELL DO THEY BOTHER VIDEO TAPING THIS S*HIT IF THEY CANT USE THE EVIDENCE AFTER??????

IT WOULDNT HAVE BEEN LONG UNTIL HE WAS KIDNAPPING AND KILLING KIDS!

LOCKKKKK HIMMMMMMMM UPPPPPPPPP 4EVERRRRR!!!!!!!!!!

I hope his lawyers and the judge never ever has to go through what all the victims has went through. I wouldn't wish this crap on my worst enemy!!
(((((hugs to all who is involved in this mess, especially the kids))))
WHERES JESSICAS LAW WHEN YA NEED IT?

[WeNeedJESSICASla w]

he doesnt deserve any kind of rights.

[Proud Conservative]

Judge Hayes sides with the criminal once again. She should be tossed from the bench.

[Judge Hayes Strikes]

I am NOT surprised!! This is the kind of thing that should of been held @ a DIFFERENT COURT Through a DIFFERENT JUDGE!!
We need to do something to get this obviously crazy judge out!!!!!!

[Concerned Vermonter]

I agree he has the right to a fair trial... but come on... Would you want this murderer, sex offender, who confesses to these crimes, on the street near your children???? The world would be a much better place if we didn't let people like this do these horrible crimes AGAIN... Fair or not he's GUILTY!!!!! My thoughts are with the victims family...

[degusted]

How in the world was this monsters right violated? This man needs to die he should recieve the death penilty Not only did he take another mans life he distroyed childrens lives and grrrrr I just don't see how this man should breath when he took a life his life should be taken Michael Christmas took a mans life in front of children planned it and distroyed many lives, and familys He should die

[Judge Hayes Strikes]

so sad 4 the family!! No JUSTICE IN SITE!

[Samantha]

I agree with so many of you on how Michael Christmas showed die but maybe he should have done to him what he has done to these children. My heart goes out to all the kids and Pam. You are all still in my thoughts and prayers.

[patti nagle]

I understand her throwing it out. but don't throw him back into society. he murdered. now do something about it. he is not fit to go back in. this is bad for both sides. I am so sorry for the murdered victims family AND his family. NOT him, but his family.

[Public Defender Hayes]

Judge Hayes should just step down and work for the Public Defenders office. The next thing she will do is give him bail and set it low enough that he will be able to walk the streets. The funny thing is, they treat traffic violators with more zeal in this town, then they do child molesters and killers. The reason being: it is all about money for the state. You don't give child molesters tickets that generate money for the state. No, see… kiddie perverts will be a burden on the state, because the state has to feed and house them in jail. So judges like Hayes lets them walk the streets.

[NewMonter]

Is it just me or do people in Vermont get more time for getting caught with maijuana then they do for hurtting a child or physiclly assaulting another human being. Election year people keep that in mind. back in 1991 there was 2 women in jail 1 for murder and the other for selling haroin the one for murder was doing 5 years for shooting the wrong man 5 times and the other was doing 25 yrs to life? does that seem backwords?

Look I know drugs are not a good thing but it seems in Vermont you get more time for drug dealing then you do for hurting someone and that is backwords and sickning,

Michael Christmas planned on Killing my friend Ron Wilkins he should be facing the death penilty not life in jail where we have to pay for a man who took a life to breath . Not only did he take a life but he distroyed meny lives along the way, Children our children, Why should he continue to live?

Any person convicted of child rape or murder should not live, No rehabilitation they cannot be reformed, It is not a desease it is a choice. Sometimes it makes me so sick when I hear a sexual preditor has a desease, ok well it is not curable so kill the desease by ending its life.

I am not sorry for sounding harsh and cruel.Being a survivior of sexual abuse myself I know what damage it has done to me and I know what I live with day to day in my life and relationships.

My personal opnion of Judge Hayes and her action appal me, I do not think she is fit to set on the Vermont court bench, Maybe she needs to go and see how sexual assault affects the children that have lived through it,

The children at the Harrington house the day Michael Christmas took the life of Ron Wilkins, There lives will never be the same. I think this is all sick and Judge Hayse should excuse herself from this case or any other. She should resign because I do not believe she knows what justice is. Why be a judge if you are going to set low bails on preditors and high bails on non violent offenders I just don't get it.

[looking after corruption]

i think they did the right thing....its about time...they dont need a statement to bring him to trial...the judge for the first time....did the right thing....if the cops dont do the job the right way...then why should we have laws?
do you like crooked cops? or judges?

[Larry]

If you all remember correctly, Judge Hayes was a Public Defender in Bennington County 10 plus years ago. She is doing the same now as before.

[EJH]

Xmas deserves the worst punishment he could get. The police screwed up. Blame them. You have to go by the book. Not having the confession won't make a difference in the outcome.

[Vermont the KILL state]

Where is comments 2,3, and 4? They were deleted because THEY WERE THE TRUTH! Dont have this here to discuss things if only ONE SIDE can be discussed!

[Mandy]

I hope this sick pig never breathes free air again!

[Family for Ron]

I can't beleive that someone can confess to a crime...2 crimes and be treated like he deserves rights. He has no remorse, no guilt, no shame. He may not even be charged for molestation, what is that showing the community. You might as well line all the child molestors up have them walk in to the police station admit what they are, b/c according to Judge Hayes as long as you admit to it there's no punishment. What kind of message are we sending out here???? Why don't the judge walk a day in the shoes of the children and see what it's like to try and live with the wounds and scars he's left upon them. The image of watching your father gunned down like he was nothing. Ask his oldest son who lives everyday with the thought that his father was in his arms and he could'nt save him. Go ahead Judge hayes ask the children! I try not and go on to these sites and pay attention to all the comments that are posted especially when they make Ron out to the bad guy and Mike to be the victim but Ron was my family and I love him very dearly. I miss him, I miss his smile, his silly laugh, his voice, his free spirit. Ron lived in the moment and always said life was to short, he was'nt perfect no one is except the ALMIGHTY GOD. I know that but Ron was a good person, he was a great father and always put his children first. He was so many things to alot of people. I know that no matter what happens we can't bring him back but justice needs to be done for the murder and the molestation. Our family needs to try and find closure, and it makes it very hard when the law prolongs everything.
And to Ron: your family loves you very much, we will never forget you. Always and forever in our hearts and souls.

[amy archibald]

I think it a definet injustice when a man molests and murders a man in cold blood and could get a way with it. i hope the judge wakes up and realizes that this poor exuce of a human being is guilty and should be put away for life and never be let back in to society.
Amy

[X-Vermonter]

Oh, I'm going to get some flack thrown at me here. HE DECLINED TO TALK AFTER BEING GIVEN HIS "MIRANDA RIGHTS". These rights are given to everyone in the U.S. when being charged with any crime. The POLICE violated this right by continuing the interrogation after he declined to talk. If the Judge had not thrown this out, you would be looking at a mistrial down the road. The charge against him is first degree murder so don't be looking for the wack-o to be walking your streets anytime soon because more than likely, bail will be
declined, based on the seriousness of all charges.

[Family for Ron]

I think what some people posting comments don't realize is that he admitted to the molestation and now that the confession has been thrown out, his defense is that the molestation is irrelavant and would have never been told if he did'nt confess. So now their debating throwing out those charges.
Everyone thinks that its a drop in the hat and he will be convicted of the murder, and be put away for life well lets hope that's what happens but you never know. If he can get away with molesting after confessing to it then he could very well get away with Murder! If you saw the confession tape(as I have) you would see not one time did he ask for a lawyer. If you saw the coldness and bitterness he had, then maybe you'd realize how important that tape is as far as evidence. The last thing I can say is,"Vengeance is mine thus sayeth the Lord."
If justice isn't served here on earth, one day it will be. Thanks to all who support our family.