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Updated: 10:34 AM Aug 5, 2008
Bond Decision Reversed
Harrisonburg, Va. A Harrisonburg Circuit Court judge has denied bond for alleged murderer, Donna Jean Hockman. Posted: 4:43 PM Aug 4, 2008Reporter: Haley Harrison Email Address: hharrison@whsv.com |
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17 Comments 
A Harrisonburg Circuit Court judge has denied bond for alleged murderer, Donna Jean Hockman.
Earlier Monday, a judge in Harrisonburg's General District Court approved a $35,000 bond for Hockman.
Commonwealth's Attorney Marsha Garst appealed the earlier ruling to the Harrisonburg Circuit Court where a judge overturned it Monday afternoon. Hockman and her attorney can appeal to the Virginia Court of Appeals.
Hockman is charged with first degree murder for the shooting death of Dustin Stanley on July 25.
Monday, we learned how prosecutors say Hockman allegedly murdered Stanley a little more than a week ago. Stanley's brother Josh says Hockman and Stanely fought often and Hockman told him she thought about killing him.
The next day, Garst says Hockman went out and bought the gun that was found inside her home the day of the murder.
That's when a Sheriff's Deputy says Hockman told a friend "It's either him or me." Crime scene evidence shows that on July 25, someone shot Stanely five times in the back, wrapped him in a tent and stashed his body in the back of an SUV.
Josh Stanley says they're relieved that they can move forward with their grieving.
Latest Comments
In the Hockman trial. I am sorry for the boys parents. I know what I know about Dustin Stanley. I watched him beat the mother of his twins;when she was pregnant with the babies. Because of dustin assisting police in drug busts, he would go free of hurting women. The last words he said to me was , this is not your house you can leave.If the sheriffs department would not have let him get by with the abuse; just maybe Dustin would still be alive today. God Bless Donna and her family and may she go free from all charges. I love you Donna and I know you would not harm a human being unless you or children was in danger.
Not from the Valley, it’s amazing that you think that people can kill others if they feel wronged by them. If your philosophy were true, then she would have been shot a long time ago and the murderer would have walked free because according to you if some can sympathize with you then you can kill. I love how you say valley people don’t understand this and that, yet you have the most simple-minded and stereo-typing comments I've ever read.
Hanna, I only wish it was that easy. I don't think people can always 'just leave'. Too bad you know. Humans can do crazy things when driven to a breaking point. We all are different and nobody knows where that breaking point could be. Yes, people get killed - even for minor things - and I'm sure she will be punished no matter what the outcome. Remember though, the defense gets the last word in trial and it only takes ONE juror to have sympathy for her and she will go free. If she was not abused, then surely she will get life in prison (this is not going to be a capital case according to the DA), but if the defense can show evidence of abuse - there's no telling what the range of her sentence will be.
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