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November 30, 2006
Fullwoods' custody hearing delayed
Topics: NewsBy HEATHER ALLEN
heather.allen@heraldtribune.com
SARASOTA -- Ellen-Beth Fullwood will have to wait a while longer to find out if she will regain custody of her four youngest children.
She and her husband, Dale Fullwood, are the parents of slain 6-year-old Coralrose Fullwood. The couple's four youngest children were removed from their custody the day after Coralrose was found dead a few blocks from their North Port home on Sept. 17.
Dale Fullwood has since been jailed on charges of possession of child pornography.
The Fullwoods were supposed to have been arraigned Wednesday on allegations brought by the state Department of Children and Families that their home was unfit for the four children to live in.
It was expected that Dale Fullwood's child pornography charges -- and possibly other previously unreleased details about conditions in the Fullwood home -- were going to be discussed in court.
But the arraignment was postponed when a judge ruled that the attorney representing Ellen-Beth Fullwood posed a conflict. Ellen-Beth Fullwood, like her husband, will now have a court-appointed attorney representing her in the custody battle.
The court also set a new custody trial date of Feb. 14, a nearly three-month delay that angered Ellen-Beth Fullwood.
"I'm a little upset that it was pushed back. There's no way for me to get my children back before that?" she asked the court. "I would prefer that things would happen quicker. My children are without me. ... They don't know what is going on."
It was the first time the Fullwoods had seen each other since Dale Fullwood's arrest in October.
The two did not talk or make eye contact in court.
John Coleman, a Fort Myers attorney, had been serving as Ellen-Beth Fullwood's attorney. He had represented both Fullwoods before Dale's arrest.
Dale Fullwood's court-appointed attorney, Debra M. Salisbury, argued that Coleman should not be allowed to represent Ellen-Beth Fullwood because there could be information Dale provided Coleman that could be used against him in the dependency case.
No one has been arrested in connection with Coralrose's death. A judge placed her siblings in their maternal grandparents' Lee County home days after her body was found.
Posted by admin at November 30, 2006 7:01 AM
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Comments
While the wheels of justice turn slowly it is imperative that both Fullwoods' are given a fair and impartial trial. Attorneys have very little to do with court scheduling. This is mandated by other judicial activities and availability. In the begining there is always the denial that a family member could commit such a crime but as time passes and the shock begins to wear off, a person has time to think more clearly and may realize that it is possible that a family member or good friend could have done it. It is important that Mrs Fullwood distance herself from the accused and use a different attorney. My personal feeling is that she (Mrs. Fullwood) is concerned that because of her support of her husband, which was normal and expected, the authorities will believe she has been covering for him and now she will become a suspect. I would hope that she will place more trust in the professionals surrounding her, especially her new attorney, be forthcoming with any information that will bring the murderer to justice.
Posted by: Bud at November 30, 2006 7:19 AM
NO matter what we think!!! WE NEED TO PUT OUR TRUST IN HELPING THE FAMILY. THE CHILDREN ARE ALL THAT MATTERS RIGHT NOW...TIME WILL TAKE CARE OF THE REST....Amandas dad Roy;;;;;;;
Posted by: Roy Brown at November 30, 2006 8:48 AM
