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Two murder suspects in tie-up slaying plead not guilty
| Tuesday, Apr 22 2008 6:23 PM
Last Updated: Wednesday, Apr 23 2008 7:14 AM
Two men accused of tying up a woman who later died from suffocation pleaded not guilty to charges of second-degree murder Tuesday afternoon.
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James Arthur Wyatt, arraigned at the Kern Superior Court on charges of second degree murder for the killing of Lora Louise Shine.
Sharron Coleman, sister of the victim Lora Louise Shine, makes comment on the arraignment of her sister's alleged killers, James Arthur Wyatt, and Justin Ennis, arraigned at the Kern Superior Court.
Justin Ennis was arraigned at the Kern Superior Court on charges of second-degree murder for the killing of Lora Louise Shine.
James Arthur Wyatt, 60, and Justin Mark Ennis, 21, were ordered to remain in custody on $1 million bail. A preliminary hearing was scheduled for May 6.
The men allegedly tied up Lora Louise Shine, Wyatt’s girlfriend, with duct tape and tie downs at Wyatt’s house in south Bakersfield on Friday following an argument between Wyatt and Shine, police said. They left her in an upstairs bedroom for several hours, and when they returned she was dead.
Shine’s sister, Sharron Coleman, said Shine and Wyatt had been dating for 14 years.
“They always had an abusive relationship,” Coleman said. “This time it just went too far.”
Wyatt doesn’t deserve to be walking the streets after what he did to Shine, Coleman said.
Shine’s daughter, Stephanie Shine, 21, called her mother a wonderful person.
Relatives of Wyatt’s left with Wyatt’s attorney, Michael Dellostritto. He objected to photographs and video being taken of his client because Wyatt hadn’t had a chance to shave and was in handcuffs, but Judge Michael Lewis continued to allow the use of cameras in the courtroom.
Wyatt, who teaches automotive classes at Taft College, has been placed on administrative leave for the remainder of the school year, college President William Duncan said. A substitute teacher has taken over his classes.
Wyatt submitted his resignation on Nov. 1 because he was retiring at the end of the school year, Duncan said. His resignation is effective May 30.
Ennis, in a jail interview, said that after discovering Shine was dead he, Wyatt, and a third man named Brian Bales smoked marijuana and drank margaritas as they tried to figure out what to do. Bales, 21, was not charged.
Ennis said Wyatt frequently tied Shine up after fights.