The photos featured here were taken two days prior to Linda Henning’s sentencing. On April 16, a hearing was held to address Albuquerque psychic Cynthia Hess’ claim that private investigator Maurice Moya told her that he knows where Girly Chew Hossencofft was murdered and where the body is buried. Mr. Moya is an investigator for attorney Ray Twohig. Mr. Twohig represents a co-defendant in the case, Bill Miller. The hearing did not shed any light on the location of the body. Investigator Moya denied making the alleged remark. Mr. Twohig said the hearing was the prosecutor’s “publicity stunt.” Prosecutor Paul Spiers said the hearing was aimed at shedding light on the location of Girly’s remains.
(Albuquerque) Linda Henning has spent three and half years behind bars waiting to learn her fate. The answer finally came from District Court Judge W. John Brennan on Friday, April 18, 2003. Brennan sentenced the convicted murderer to a life sentence plus 43 years. In New Mexico, a life sentence is 30 years.
Last fall, a jury found Henning guilty of murdering 36-year-old bank teller Girly Chew Hossencofft in September of 1999.
Henning continues to claim she is innocent and hopes to receive a new trial. Her attorney, Gary Mitchell, has filed an appeal based on recently discovered new evidence.
During her sentencing, Henning read aloud her seven page written statement to the court. The statement is highly critical of prosecutors, detectives, the judge and others involved in the case.
*note: I was not present for Henning’s sentencing. Instead, I was in northern New Mexico covering the annual Good Friday pilgrimage to Chimayo for KOB-TV. Because I was the only reporter working the dayshift for the station that day, management said, regretfully, it had no choice but to assign me to the popular Chimayo story (the station did send a photographer to Henning’s sentencing).
**For more information about Henning’s sentencing, please refer to the story written by Albuquerque Tribune reporter Joline Gutierrez Krueger. As always, Joline’s story is very well written and reported. The Tribune has a seperate article devoted to the entire text of Henning’s seven page written statement. The Albuquerque Journal also has a story on the sentencing. However, the Journal’s Web site requires that you obtain and enter a password before accessing its archives.
Miller trial postponed
(Albuquerque) The trial of defendant Bill Miller is now set to begin July 14, 2003. Mr. Miller is charged with five counts of tampering with evidence. The trial had previously been scheduled to begin in April.