Video shows Kentucky judge trying to hide as he is shot in chambers

Muffled sobs were the only sound in court as silent video showed the moment a Kentucky judge was shot and killed in his courthouse chambers.

Shawn Stines, who resigned as Letcher County sheriff on Monday, is charged with the first-degree murder of Letcher County District Judge Kevin Mullins. Stines has pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Kentucky State Police Detective Clayton Stamper was the first witness to take the stand during Tuesday’s probable cause hearing and testified on video showing the fatal shooting. The silent video lasts only a few seconds but appears to show Stines entering Mullins’ apartments with a gun in his outstretched arm. The judge jumps from his chair to the floor and Stines appears to chase him around the office, shooting repeatedly. Before leaving the room, Stines appears to approach and fire another shot under the desk where the judge was trying to hide.

At the end of the video, loud sobbing was heard from the courtroom gallery, where the family of the accused and the victim sat and watched the hearing.

Stamper testified that during a discussion not seen on video between Stines and Mullins, Stines attempted to call his daughter using the judge’s phone. In doing so, Stines would have already found his daughter’s number in the phone. Although no further information about a possible motive was provided, Stamper said Stines told another officer during his arrest, “They’re trying to kidnap my wife and child.”

Judge Rupert Wilhoit found probable cause to turn the case over to a grand jury. Prosecutors have not said whether they will seek the death penalty against Stines.

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This story was originally published by Lauren Silver on Court Television.