Trial in murder of 13-year-old to begin

• By DAVID J. MITCHELL
• Advocate Florida parishes bureau
• Published: Feb 25, 2008

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LIVINGSTON — The second-degree murder trial of Mark S. Lewis, accused of strangling a 13-year-old French Settlement girl in February 2007, is expected to begin this week, court records show.

Attorneys are expected to discuss final pretrial motions at 9 this morning and start jury selection Tuesday at the Livingston Parish Courthouse, Assistant Public Defender Shawn McKee said.

If convicted as charged, Lewis faces a mandatory sentence of life in prison without the benefit of parole.

The disappearance and death of Kaitlin M. Aydell shocked  the small town of French Settlement, sparking a communitywide search that ended with her body being found Feb. 3, 2007, partially submerged in the New River Bayou in Ascension Parish.

Since then, family members have kept her memory fresh, including a recent candlelight memorial at New River Bayou to mark the one-year anniversary  of  her death.

Aydell’s mother, Danette Aydell, other family and friends also have regularly attended court hearings, wearing now familiar pink T-shirts and ribbons. Aydell’s mother declined comment last week but has said after previous hearings that she is ready for the closure Lewis’ trial will bring.

Lewis, 40, who has pleaded innocent to the charge, is a relative to Kaitlin Aydell by marriage and lived next door to her on Aydell Lane at the time of her disappearance Feb. 1.

Because of the media scrutiny into the case and because another trial is slated to begin the same day, state District Judge Brenda Bedsole Ricks has ordered that 400 people be subpoenaed for jury selection.

Attorneys for both sides requested an additional 150 potential jurors in a hearing earlier this year, up from the 250 people previously subpoenaed.

Prosecutor Charlotte Herbert does not comment on trial strategy, and the court record does not provide a complete listing of what she plans for trial.

But records show Livingston Parish investigators have gathered evidence from Lewis’ truck, including fingerprints, a ruler that belonged to Aydell and, according to DNA testing, her blood and mucus in Lewis truck.

Lewis also gave initial statements to investigators that were later contradicted, leading to his initial booking on an obstruction of justice charge. Though not indicted on the count, prosecutors appear to be aiming to raise some of those contradictions  at trial.
Herbert, for instance, has subpoenaed Lewis’ wife, Darlee Lewis, as a possible witness.

While Louisiana law protects spousal conversations that Darlee Lewis may have had with Mark Lewis, Darlee Lewis can be forced to testify to things she has seen, said A. Wayne Stewart, a prominent criminal defense lawyer in Livingston.