(Albuquerque) The words came from District Court Judge Albert S. “Pat” Murdoch in a matter of fact fashion, “Ms. Henning still stands as a suspect for first degree murder?” The response from prosecutor Paul Spiers, “She does, your Honor. The Grand Jury (investigating the disappearance of Girly Hossencofft) is wanting to be deliberate about it and not have their judgement compromised by rushing to any particular decision.” The simple exchange was perhaps at the core of a whirlwind day in court Tuesday.
Linda Henning was in Judge Murdoch’s courtroom for what seemed destined to be a typical, ten minute arraignment regarding her bond. She was arrested Friday and charged with perjury and criminal solicitation to commit perjury. But Tuesday’s arraignment was anything but typical. We learned that prosecutors believe Ms. Henning recently tried to get two million dollars from a Long Island, New York man named *Steve Zachary. Prosecutors suspect Ms. Henning wanted to get the money, and use a passport to leave the United States.
Judge Murdoch stated, “The state has, at their disposal, conversations that were overheard through legally obtained wire taps, etc, which indicates that large amounts of money were attempted to be accessed; where discussions were had about leaving the jurisdiction.”
At the end of the one hour arraignment, Judge Murdoch said Henning is considered a “flight risk”. He set her bond at $100,000 after stating, ” Whether these conversations were based upon truth or not, I don’t know; but they (prosecutors) have tapes of these conversations and I must act upon those.”
Murdoch’s ruling came after Henning’s attorney, Darryl Cordle, spent about 20-minutes trying to convince the judge that his client is not only innocent, but that she’s a victim of overzealous police work. Cordle told the judge that Henning has no criminal record, adding, “In fact, when we did a traffic check, she doesn’t even have tickets!”
Cordle told the judge that investigators are trying to get Henning to break down and implicate Diazien Hossencofft in the disappearance of his estranged wife, Girly Hossencofft. “I will reiterate for the record,” said Cordle, “She (Henning) knows nothing about the disappearance of Girly Hossencofft.”
Added Cordle, “There is a pattern of intimidation and, unfortunately, it appears to be sanctioned intimidation on the part of the Albuquerque Police Department and the district attorney’s office to, in some way, (get Ms. Henning to) make a statement implicating Diazien Hossencofft.”
Cordle told the court that, on October 19, he received a “target letter” from the state, informing him that Ms.Henning is suspected of committing first degree murder.
“Frankly, I think it’s pretty clear the state doesn’t have a case against Diazien Hossencofft. If they did, he’d be indicted. If they did, they wouldn’t need Ms. Henning,” Cordle told the judge.
Judge Murdoch is already very familiar with the state’s evidence against Henning. He’s the judge who’s overseeing the grand jury that’s investigating the disappearance of Girly Hossencofft. He also signed the warrants regarding the recent arrest of Ms. Henning. Those warrants have been sealed.
Still, prosecutor Spiers offered up this statement in court Tuesday: “Evidence in the form of guns and knives were secured from Ms. Henning and she has, through Michael Harvey, been able to access and trade off, systematically, on her vehicles so that she goes two or three days in one vehicle, then trades it in for another one (and so on).
Henning’s attorney explained in court that Mr. Harvey is Henning’s close friend. According to earlier court documents, Mr. Harvey is known to stay at Henning’s home at #9 La Villita Circle NE. Defense attorney Cordle explained that Henning recently started living out of a variety of hotels in an effort to escape the constant “round the clock” surveillance by police.
Prosecutor Spiers stated that Mr. Harvey works at a used car business and provides Ms. Henning with vehicles from the lot.
Prosecutors say Ms.Henning has been known to use a variety of aliases, including the names *Lisa Harding, *Linda Booth and *Mary Alice Thomas. Investigators say the real Mary Alice Thomas allowed Ms. Henning to use her name when Ms. Henning recently booked into a hotel. Prosecutors say that particular hotel reservation also included a false address for Ms. Henning.
The prosecution also told the court Tuesday that Ms. Henning tried to persuade the real Mary Alice Thomas to commit perjury before the grand jury. This is the reason Ms. Henning is charged with “criminal solicitation to commit perjury.”
Prosecutor Spiers told the judge that Mr. Harvey was so upset at one point following Girly Hossencofft’s disappearance, that he ran through a red light and he had a 9mm handgun in his car.
In his defense of Henning, attorney Cordle stated that police ransacked Ms.Henning’s home at #9 La Villita Circle NE. Prosecutor Spiers told the judge the home has been searched (but), “I’ve heard nothing indicating to me that would be consistent with anything resembling a ransacking.” Mr. Spiers also stated that investigators were “being careful not to upset the living situation of Ms. Henning.”
While trying to convince the court that his client has been bullied by police and subjected to great stress, Mr. Cordle told the judge, “Ms. Henning was on the evening news (Monday night) that was being watched at the satellite (jail facility) and there was a near riot as the individuals at the satellite began calling her a murderer.”
As Ms. Henning arrived at court, she emerged from a small, third floor elevator used for transporting prisoners. When the elevator door opened, this reporter introduced himself and began asking questions with his television station’s camera rolling. Ms. Henning immediately dropped her head, her long, black hair concealing her face. At first she attempted to walk backwards while stooping over. She then proceeded to walk forward while still hunched over. This reporter asked several questions. Ms. Henning did not respond to any of my inquiries. More than an hour later, she bent forward once again as she left court. Walking as if doubled-over, she said nothing.
(*indicates spelling of name is unconfirmed)