One of the last people to see a Lawrence woman alive before she was fatally beaten this summer was a key witness Thursday at a preliminary hearing in District Court.
But Frank Mallonee testified he didn't remember much of that day because in the hours leading up to the death, he and a friend had consumed whiskey and somewhere around 47 beers between the two of them.
Mallonee testified that sometime during daylight hours of July 29, after his all-night drinking binge, Linda Begay came to his trailer at Gaslight Village, 1900 W. 31st St., drank about 16 ounces of whiskey, took off her clothes, and passed out in a bed. Mallonee said he tried to have sex with Begay but couldn't because he was too intoxicated, but police say he admitted having sex with Begay when he gave a statement after the death.
Begay's boyfriend, Christopher Belone, 35, is charged with her murder. Prosecutors allege he came to the trailer where Begay was sleeping, pulled her out of bed and beat her with a wooden object. She died three days later.
The hearing, meant to determine whether there's enough evidence to put Belone on trial, will continue next Thursday.
Comments
doesitmatter 10 years, 10 months ago
I could not even begin to understand the pain and agony this woman went throught before passing away. You are so right. The justice system and the media are notorious for scrutinizing the victums. Facts are facts... this womans blood is on the hands of the accused and he should be punished for such hateful and senseless crime.
carolannfugate 10 years, 10 months ago
The Victim is always scrutinized. This is the number one problem with the Justice system.
geekin_topekan 10 years, 10 months ago
Lin Begay is dead.Killed at the hands of Belone. The defense will try to cloud the issue with stories of drunken indians and use words like "Can't rememeber". But she didn't die immediatly.No,she lay Four nights in agony as infection and fever ate her body.She died the most horrible death that you can imagine.One that should be reserved for child molesters and other crimes against the innocent. She merely wanted a day to be Linda.Not "Belones Ol'lady". But after the defense beats a young woman's character into someone her friends wouldn't even recognize the facts will still remain. Lin is dead.Driven from the home by childish tyranny and beaten to death. Those are the facts in this case.
Linda Endicott 10 years, 10 months ago
And so a woman being drunk is an excuse to beat her to death...NOT.
That has nothing to do with the fact that this man killed her, in cold blood. It doesn't absolve him of his guilt.
The defense should be ashamed.
doc1 10 years, 10 months ago
Trailer parks suck!!!!
sublime 10 years, 10 months ago
Drunk or not,real men don't hit woman.That man(if you can call him a man)Needs a serious beat down.Its heart breaking to hear how much she suffered.Not only is Belone a PUNK,but he is an animal and should die like one.Lets just hope the Jury does the right thing.
Commenting has been disabled for this item.