Accused murderer awaits hearing
Published 12:00 am Wednesday, December 29, 2004
Brent Springford Jr., who has been charged with two counts of capital murder in connection with the deaths of his parents, remains in Colorado fighting extradition.
Since being arrested on
Dec. 8, Springford Jr. has fought extradition back to Alabama. He was served a warrant from Colorado Gov. Bill Owens ordering his extradition to Alabama to face murder charges.
Since being served the governor's warrant, Springford Jr. has bought some more time as he awaits a Jan. 10, 2005 extradition
hearing to be held in Boulder, Colo.
"Based on what happens at that hearing will determine whether or not he's coming back immediately or if he's going to continue to fight extradition," Montgomery Police Department spokesperson Lt. Huey Thornton said.
Published reports said Springford Jr. allegedly beat to death his parents, Winston "Brent" and Charlotte Springford, at their Montgomery Garden District home at 1944 South Hull Street Thanksgiving night. Springford Sr. was the President of Pepsi Cola Bottling Company of Luverne, which is Charlotte’s hometown.
Prior to Springford Jr.'s fight against extradition, Thornton said the MPD had not given much thought to him fighting return back to Alabama.
"We wish he had waved extradition and just come back to Montgomery to face the charges," he said. "This is just a small amount of time has to elapse in order for the process to work its course."
Lt. Thornton said waiting on Springford's extradition won't affect the department's case.
"Our case has been built and once there was enough probable cause to a sign a warrant then basically you should have enough information at that point to successfully prosecute the case," Thornton said. "This doesn't affect our case at all."
As for the evidence against Springford Jr., Lt. Thornton said he believes the department has a sound case.
"We definitely feel like we have enough probable cause built in our case to successfully prosecute him," Thornton said. "These type cases don't go to trial in a short period of time any way. He's going to come back, be served the warrant and depending on how much time it takes for the defense and the prosecution to get ready, it could be up to a year before he goes to trial. In the big picture, this is just a small amount of time."
Once Springford is extradited to Montgomery, he will be placed in the Montgomery County Detention Facility and will await the grand jury's indictment.