Samuel Dieteman testifies about his role in the Serial Shooter killing spree. Photo courtesy of ABC 15
Live from the courtroom: Before court started this morning, one of the jurors sent a note to Judge Roland Steinle. “Is Jeff Hausner in custody?” the note asked. “And should we be concerned with the comings and goings from the court (because of) all the extra security?”
Jeff Hausner’s name has come up a lot in the past couple days of testimony. He’s the brother of Dale Hausner, who is on trial here in Phoenix accused of eight murders and 79 other crimes, and was the roommate of Samuel Dieteman, who is on the witness stand talking about being a part of two of the killings and multiple other shootings. As part of Dieteman’s testimony, he said he witnessed Jeff Hausner stabbing a man nearly to death in the summer of 2006.
And since his name started coming up more often, the courtroom has been under high security. An extra metal detector has been placed outside the main door. Burly SWAT team members dot the courtroom.
Steinle reassured the jurors that this had nothing to do with Dale Hausner’s older brother. Jeff Hausner is in custody, he told them. In fact, he has been in the Lewis Prison in Buckeye since 2007, when he was sentenced for another stabbing.
“The fact that we have additional security does not mean that we have any security risk,” Steinle said. “That was a decision made by the sheriff’s department. That should not affect you in any way, shape or form.” The Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office ordered the extra security precautions be put in place strictly while Dieteman is on the witness stand.