Megan Hall, the woman accused of murdering Pottsville businessman Patrick Murphy, appeared in Orleans Parish magistrate court Thursday.
Here is a moment-by-moment account of the preliminary hearing:
Megan Hall Preliminary Hearing
Megan Hall is accused of murdering Pottsville businessman Patrick Murphy in a seedy hotel room in New Orleans on February 28.
Hall turned herself into police just days after the incident.
She is seeking a reduced bail, at the least, in today’s proceedings.
Hall faces a $750,000 bond. Unable to pay, she’s been in jail since earlier in March. This preliminary hearing was moved back from March 14 due to a state-requested continuance.
Hall faces second-degree murder for killing Patrick Murphy at the Empress Hotel in the Treme section of New Orleans.
Today’s preliminary hearing was heard before Orleans Parish Magistrate Commissioner Jonathan Friedman. The Assistant District Attorney in charge of the prosecution’s case is Inga Petrovich.
Johnathan Friedman/Orleans Parish
Representing Hall in today’s proceedings is attorney John Fuller.
John Fuller/Facebook
LIVE UPDATES FROM NEW ORLEANS
4:25 p.m. (Pottsville time): Court is still in session for Tashonty Toney. He’s accused of running a vehicle into a crowd of people in New Orleans the day after Hall allegedly killed Murphy.
According to Matt Sledge of The New Orleans Advocate, the courtroom is packed for these two “high profile” cases:
Friedman’s taken the bench. The courtroom is packed.
— Matt Sledge (@mgsledge) March 28, 2019
4:45 p.m.: The court has made a ruling on the first case on the docket. Hall should be coming up soon.
5:07 p.m.: Still waiting for updates from the courtroom.
5:21 p.m.: Homicide Detective Patrick Guidry on the stand, according to Advocate reporter. Remember, so far all that’s known is Hall entered the Empress with Murphy and was the only one seen leaving the hotel, per surveillance footage provided by Empress ownership.
5:23 p.m.: Det. Guidry says Patrick Murphy died from 3 stab wounds.
5:25 p.m.: Atty. Fuller questioning Guidry … Remember, the goal of the preliminary hearing (for the prosecution) is to present enough evidence to move this case to a trial.
5:34 p.m.: Det. Guidry describes location of 3 stab wounds on Murphy — 2 to the abdomen, 1 to the neck. All stab wounds inflicted on the front of Murphy’s body.
5:42 p.m.: Atty. Fuller asks detective if other evidence is recovered — such as evidence you might find from two adults having sex. Remember, Murphy apparently paid for Hall’s prostitute services the night he died. Question thrown out.
Fuller asks whether cops recovered any evidence “consistent with typical adult relations,” which is a little too euphemistic for Commissioner Friedman. “I’m trying not to be too graphic,” Fuller says. Frieman sustains an objection from the state on this line of questions.
— Matt Sledge (@mgsledge) March 28, 2019
5:52 p.m.: Atty. Fuller begins arguing for reduction of second-degree murder charge. Says wounds were to the front and even if all evidence points to Hall as the killer, “it’s manslaughter at most,” quotes Sledge of The Advocate.
5:54 p.m.: Assistant District Attorney Inga Petrovich says 3 stab wounds is the very definition of intent to kill.
5:57 p.m.: Friedman says state has “probable cause” to arrest Hall on second-degree murder. Hall’s bail remains at $750,000. Instructs Atty. Fuller he can apply for reduced bail at a later date.
Check out our previous coverage of the Patrick Murphy murder case:
- Patrick Murphy Murder: Serious Questions About Empress Hotel
- Funeral Arrangements for Patrick Murphy Announced
- What Will Megan Hall Say in Defense of Killing Patrick Murphy?
- “Get in the Bathroom!” Last Words Pat Murphy Likely Heard
- Will the DA Seek Lesser Charges in the Death of Patrick Murphy?
- Murphy Murder Suspect Arrested Sunday in NOLA
- Schuylkill County Residents Trolling Pat Murphy’s Alleged Murderer on Facebook
- Murphy Murder Suspect Has Illicit History, Faces 2nd Degree Murder
- Pottsville Expressing Grief Over Pat Murphy’s Murder
- Pottsville Businessman Pat Murphy Murdered in New Orleans
Subscribe to Coal Region Canary
Get email updates from Coal Region Canary by becoming a subscriber today. Just enter your email address below to get started!Support Coal Region Canary
Like our reporting and want to support truly local news in Schuylkill County? Your small donations help. For as little as $5, your contribution will allow us to cover more news that directly affects you. Consider donating today by hitting the big yellow button below ...
Questions
March 28, 2019 at 6:08 pm
So big question still remains.
Why?
Did he forget cash and she freaked bc he couldn’t pay?
In ensuing struggle she did that and then almost was in shock hence her yelling get in bathroom bc she didn’t know what else to do?
Obv the neck strike was the death blow. Probably severed artery and he prolly literally only had 20 to 30 seconds of life left.
Ugh what a terrible situation.
Dirty Harry
March 28, 2019 at 11:22 pm
Could you imagine. There had to be period of time, no matter how short, that he had to realize this is how he is going to check out. At the hands of a two bit street prostitute, in a seedy lay by the hour hotel. For that short moment he realized this is the way he would be remembered, not by the public persona he put on. Almost could be a Twilight Zone episode.
Questions
March 30, 2019 at 7:22 am
I always think of that crap like what was going through the person’s head in the last minutes. She was a rather big girl and he was small she’sisted at 180 in her photo I’d which is prolly 10 lbs less than actual weight. I think he gave his wallet to his wife, he was prolly drunk as shit and only had credit card. He failed to realize that when the prostitute wanted her money she probably though he was lying and she pinned him against wall where the struggle started and in a crime of passion she stabbed him. I feel he would have survived if she didn’t go for the jugular. You figure if he was dressed he would have had his cell phone in pocket. But they claim she had no blood visible on her… if there was a struggle she would have had a little on her or bruises at the very least. 2nd opinion of what happened I think someone came through the balcony which they were on first floor which is why security cams didn’t pick up anyone else. Remember they went out and smoked balcony. She was a street smart pros. If it’s TRUE he had a 14 thousand dollar watch on I think going out on balcony was the signal to her John or accomplice to come in through window. The fact he was stabbed in neck would have a shit ton of blood and she didn’t have a speck? So the “get in bathroom” was either the hold up part or she was so in shock from the blood that was the only response she had. Remember in times of great adrenaline humans have the flight, fight or freeze. Idk 3rd option could be kinky sex gone very wrong and I fond it weird the preliminary didn’t discuss that aspect
Linda
March 28, 2019 at 6:23 pm
Hmmm . . . well that was anticlimactic at best
jackie
March 29, 2019 at 6:55 am
I feel bad for his wife, imagine being with your husband all those years and this is how it turns out. How awful. His obituary annoyed me, he was sooooo in love with is wife.
Curious
March 29, 2019 at 10:05 am
So….now what? When do we find out what happened?
Wondering
March 29, 2019 at 10:58 am
I thought her attorney was supposed to lay out how innocent she was when he stated, there are more than four corners to this arrest warrant and that he will tell all.
Wondering
March 29, 2019 at 10:56 am
When does this continue? I thought her attorney said there is more than 4 corners to this page? It was supposed to come out at the preliminary.
Friend
March 29, 2019 at 11:16 am
Just because he was with a Prostitute doesnt mean he didnt love his wife. She left him to die she deserves life!!!!
Jen
June 20, 2019 at 9:25 pm
Seriously? If you truly love someone, you don’t screw around PERIOD!