Heat City

Dale Hausner

Live from the courtroom: Answering questions written down by jurors, Samuel Dieteman, the confessed accomplice in the Serial Shooter killing spree, said he believes Dale Hausner would kill again if acquitted or set free somehow.

“If he got out, it wouldn’t be a day or two, but I’m sure that maybe a year down the road he would start doing something again, whether it would be more shootings or whatever,” Dieteman said. “I morally couldn’t have lived with myself if I hadn’t have come here to testify. I just wanted to make sure that some semblance of justice is done — for the victims — for both myself and mr Hausner.”

Hausner is on trial accused of eight murders and numerous other shootings during 2005 and 2006 across the Phoenix valley. He has pleaded not guilty to the crimes. Dieteman has confessed to being involved with a number of the shootings in 2006, including two murders.

Samuel Dieteman

Live from the courtroom: Wrapping up his lengthy public murder confession, Samuel Dieteman talked about the great psychological strain and regret that his killing spree left with him. Some days, he said, he is filled with guilt and longs to die. Other days, he finds a reason to stay alive.

“It just depends what my mental focus is that day,” Dieteman said. “If I lay around basically feeling sorry for myself and think about everything I did in 2006, it’s like, hurry up and give me the needle. I do deserve to die for what I did.”

Other days, Dieteman, a father of two, said he remembers his children “and I think maybe there is something good I can do in the future.”

After more than four days of testimony, the 33-year-old will take the stand again tomorrow morning for a few final questions, which were submitted in writing by jurors. Then the star witness in the trial against Serial Shooter suspect Dale Hausner will likely be finished answering questions for the remainder of the trial.

The central building of the Maricopa County Superior Court was evacuated today during testimony by Serial Shooter suspect Samuel Dieteman. Photo by Nick R. Martin

The evacuation of the court building turned out to be a false alarm. Here’s what court spokeswoman Karen Arra sent me in an email earlier: “At approximately 11:30 a.m. this morning, a fire alarm was activated in the CCB (central court building). The building was evacuated. It appears to be a sensor in the alarm system.”

That means defense attorney Ken Everett’s questioning of star witness Samuel Dieteman will continue into this afternoon, throwing a kink into his prediction that he would finish by noon.

Live from the courtroom: Dieteman’s testimony was just interrupted by an announcement over the courthouse intercom. “Attention please, an emergency has been reported in this building,” it said. “While this report is being verified, please proceed to the corridor outside the nearest fire exit and stand by for further instructions. Do not enter the fire exit. Do not use the elevators.”

Dieteman was immediately surrounded by armed deputies, who handcuffed him and shuffled him out of the courtroom. The jury was led out another door, and Hausner was told to sit still until others were cleared out. When the jury and DIeteman were gone, he was escorted out by guards.

No word on what the emergency is. I’ll post more when I know it.

Dale Hausner, pictured in red shirt, listens as his former roommate, Samuel Dieteman, testifies against him in an eight-count murder trial. Courtesy of ABC 15

Live from the courtroom: Confessed killer Samuel Dieteman says he wants his former friend and alleged Serial Shooter accomplice, Dale Hausner, to die. “I do believe in the death penalty,” Dieteman said on the witness stand in the eight-count murder trial against Hausner. “For seven-plus murders, I do believe that would be worthy of the death penalty.”

Dieteman also said he believes he deserves to die for his role in two murders and numerous other shootings, which he has confessed to as part of a plea agreement. The agreement leaves open the possibility that he could escape the death penalty with no guarantee he will. “If I were on the jury to decide my fate, yes sir, I would vote for death,” Dieteman said under questioning by Hausner’s attorney, Ken Everett.

Ken Everett

Live from the courtroom: In a bit of a surprise, defense attorney Ken Everett just announced he plans to end his questioning of star witness Samuel Dieteman by noon. The questioning was expected to last until at least tomorrow.

Given that Dieteman is one of the last witnesses of the prosecution’s case, that means we could see the state rest its case sooner than expected. Check back throughout the day for updates.

View Larger Map

The map showing each shooting, arson and stabbing charged to Dale Hausner, the Serial Shooter suspect, has been completed. Take a look and please let me know what you think and if you see any mistakes. Remember, too, this map will be permanently affixed to the top of the page in the Serial Shooter trial section of this website. Enjoy.

Live from the courtroom: Judge Roland Steinle is fired up this afternoon. He just threatened to fine defense attorney Ken Everett for a comment that was made this afternoon in front of the jury.

It stems from an offhanded remark Everett made while star witness Samuel Dieteman was testifying. Dieteman said a friend of his was intoxicated on a certain night in question, and Everett quipped, “Of course he was.”

Steinle reprimanded Everett in front of the jury for the comment, then about 20 minutes or so later, sent the jurors out of the room and went after him again. “The next time you make a comment like the one you made before in front of the jury, it will cost you $100 when you question the credibility of this witness again,” Steinle told him. “At the end of the trial I will total it up and you can give it to the charity of your choice and show me the check.”