Dale Hausner listens to testimony in the opening days of his trial on 87 felony counts. Pool photo.
I wrote it time and again over the past year. The eight-count murder trial of Dale Hausner has always been scheduled to be “a marathon.” And that’s proved true over the past several months. In fact, it has already lasted far longer than the average death penatly case in the Phoenix area and it is not even halfway done.
But beyond that, Hausner”s is an important trial, too. It is arguably the biggest murder trial in Arizona history. The 35-year-old Mesa man is accused of some 87 crimes in what became known as the Serial Shooter killing spree of 2005 and 2006. The crimes affected nearly everyone in the metropolitan Phoenix area, with some residents even refusing to leave their homes for fear of being shot by some random, anonymous killer.
I spent about three months at another media outlet covering the ongoing trial, a trial which saw its opening arguments begin in early October. It put me in a unique position to know nearly as much about the case as the prosecutors and police responsible for Hausner’s seat in the defendant’s chair. I have heard the testimony of the victims. I have seen the physical evidence. I have seen the documents that have been filed.
It’s now January, and the prosecutors are just now moving into the heart of their case. Hausner’s supposed accomplice, a man named Samuel Dieteman, is expected to testify in the coming days about his involvement in a number of the shootings. Despite my departure from the other media outlet (follow link for details), I intend be in the courtroom for this crucial testimony.
I won’t be making any money writing about this for my new website, HEAT CITY. I’m doing this out-of-pocket and right now, completely independent of any media organization. However, if you appreciate the coverage and would be willing to sponsor me to keep me in the courtroom, please e-mail me. I am interested in speaking to media outlets or private contributors. I also plan to cover other topics, but the trial coverage is some of the most comprehensive and expensive planned at the launch of HEAT CITY. Any interest would be appreciated.
Otherwise, I hope you’ll simply appreciate the coverage as you follow along with me here on HEAT CITY. If you have any questions or would like to send me a comment, e-mail me or leave it in the comments box below.