Friends claim a former Kentucky sheriff who fatally shot a judge was showing signs of distress in the days leading up to the incident prior to the tragic event.

A past sheriff from Kentucky who took the life of a judge was reportedly exhibiting signs of distress in the lead-up to the act,According to friends' accounts.

In the ongoing trial of Sheriff Shawn "Mickey" Stines, who stands accused of murdering a local judge, the court is reviewing grand jury recordings before making a decision on the motion to dismiss the indictment. The defense team has pointed out improper testimony about Stines' mental state as a basis for the motion, but there is no mention of a ruling regarding the publication of information from Stines' health records prior to the indictment.

The defense team also argues that a significant number of potential witnesses in the case reside in Letcher County, where the trial is currently being held. Jeremy Bartley, a member of Stines' defense team, has expressed concerns about the negative perception Eastern Kentuckians often face in the remainder of the state.

Stines' alleged mental state has been a topic of discussion, with witnesses testifying about his growing paranoia in the days leading up to the shooting. Four days after the incident, Stines was evaluated and found to be in an active state of psychosis. The evaluation report states that he was unaware of his surroundings and only aware of things jail staff told him.

However, a Kentucky State Police detective who responded to the scene of the shooting testified that Stines was "in his sane mind" at the time of the shooting. This contradiction has added a layer of complexity to the case.

A local attorney, Daniel Dotson, had warned Judge Mullins before the shooting that Stines was losing control and couldn't handle the pressure. Stines' daughter has denied having any contact with Mullins, and no records of interaction between them by phone or social media were found.

The defense team is fighting to keep the case in Letcher County, arguing that moving the trial away from the mountains could expose Stines to discrimination against people from the poorest part of the state. If convicted, Stines faces the possibility of the death penalty.

The Leslie County Jail examination states that Stines had episodes of combativeness, requiring the use of pepper spray. The social worker at the Leslie County Jail notes that Stines is being given antipsychotic medication, risperidone, and a second medication, quetiapine.

The defense team is asking for a judge to release Stines on bail, citing Kentucky's constitution allowing suspects to be held without bail for a crime where the death penalty is on the table, but requiring the state to prove at a hearing that there is enough evidence to presume Stines is guilty to keep him locked up.

The case took a turn when it was revealed that Stines had been accused of failing to properly investigate allegations that a deputy was allowing women arrested to avoid incarceration in exchange for sex. The defense team made the evaluation public as part of an effort to have the murder case against Stines thrown out.

One intriguing aspect of the case is the lack of a publicly discussed motive for the shooting. Detective Clayton Stamper testified that the cell phone number of Stines' teenage daughter had been found in the call records of Mullins' own phone, but later determined that the call to the minor had been made by Stines using Mullins' phone during their confrontation in the judge's chambers just before the shooting.

As the trial progresses, the court and the public await the ruling on the motion to dismiss the indictment and a clearer understanding of the events leading up to the tragic shooting.