During jury selection, Mayes questioned prospective jurors about whether they could consider life without parole and the death penalty under the judge's instructions. [1][2][3][4]
Prosecution· Prosecution
Suzanne Mayes
Lexington County deputy solicitor who represented the State of South Carolina.
Appeared2019 Murder Trial
2,796 lines·69 proceedings
About
Suzanne Mayes served as a Deputy Solicitor for the State and participated in jury selection, direct examinations, cross-examinations, and later trial proceedings.
In jury selection, Mayes questioned prospective jurors about whether they could consider the available punishment options under the judge's instructions. During the State's case, she conducted direct examinations of Jessie Laintz, Janet Ricard, Christina Ehlke, and Amber Kyzer.
Mayes also examined Sherry Henry about safety-plan records concerning reports involving the children. The examination covered recorded allegations, restrictions on physical discipline and discussion of allegations with the children, DSS monitoring, and the agency's classification of a May 2014 report as founded for substantial risk of physical abuse.
In the defense case, Mayes cross-examined neuropharmacologist Jonathan Lipman about the records and assumptions behind his opinions. Her questions addressed gaps in his knowledge of prescription history and Chantix use, his assessment of the defendant's reliability, the basis for his AB Pinaca opinion, the absence of a pre-killing psychosis diagnosis, and the sources for his opinions. The court admitted three State exhibits without objection, resolved objections about question phrasing and repeated questioning, and later declined a defense request to revisit the voluntariness of the defendant's statement while noting the objection.
Mayes also used Chrystal Ballentine's prior statement to contrast reports of alcohol use, marijuana use, and self-talk with no reported hallucinations, loss of reality, or inability to distinguish right from wrong.
Key Points
Mayes used Sherry Henry's records to place the safety-plan restrictions and DSS findings before the court. [1]
Her examination of Jonathan Lipman addressed the sources and assumptions supporting his opinions on medication, AB Pinaca, and mental health. [1][2]
Mayes contrasted portions of Chrystal Ballentine's statement with the absence of reports of hallucinations, loss of reality, or inability to distinguish right from wrong. [1]
Attorney insights (6)
2019 Murder Trial33
Mayes presented direct testimony from Jessie Laintz, Janet Ricard, Christina Ehlke, and Amber Kyzer during the State's case. [1][2][3][4]
Mayes cross-examined defense witnesses and focused on the factual basis and limits of mental-health evidence. [1][2][3][4]
Mayes challenged the foundation for Jonathan Lipman's opinions, including his knowledge of prescription history, Chantix use, the defendant's reliability, and the sources for pre-killing information. [1][2]
Mayes used Chrystal Ballentine's prior statement to contrast reports of alcohol use, marijuana use, and self-talk with no reported hallucinations, loss of reality, or inability to distinguish right from wrong. [1]
Mayes used safety-plan records with Sherry Henry to establish recorded allegations, restrictions, DSS monitoring, and the founded classification of a May 2014 report. [1]
Trial Record (69)
Suzanne Mayes, a Deputy Solicitor for the State, examined jurors and witnesses and challenged the factual foundation of defense mental-health evidence.
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