Opening arguments in the double murder trial of John A. Okie, 22, of Newcastle, were held today at the Kennebec County Courthouse in Augusta.
Okie stands accused of the July 10, 2007 murder of Alexandra Mills in Wayne. He is also accused of killing his father, John S. Okie, in Newcastle, on July 16. Okie was arrested July 17, and has been held at Kennebec County Jail ever since.
He has pleaded not guilty and not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect.
The trial was held in the large courtroom, with the rear benches crowded with people. Several television cameras were present, but left before the trial began. Superior Court Justice Joseph Jabar presided over the trial.
Assistant Attorney General Andrew Benson’s, opening arguments were full of brutal details of the alleged murders. As he described the crimes, he imitated the actions with hand motions indicating the violent nature of the crimes.
Benson set-up his opening argument with the jury as witnesses outside the crime scene of both murders. He referred to Okie always by his full name.
He explored the terms intentionally and knowingly, as they are the two points in Maine law, which separate murder from manslaughter. Benson was careful to point out the high standard required to uphold an insanity defense in the state of Maine.
The defense gave Okie’s family and school background, before detailing his history of mental illness starting in 2004. The defense attorney consistently referred to Okie as Johnny throughout his opening argument.
He detailed Okie’s use of drugs and alcohol. Okie’s relationship with Mills was a focus, specifically that it was dysfunctional and toxic.
After opening arguments, Mills’ father testified about his daughter, her life and accomplishments. He recalled the night of the incident, and cried as he described finding his daughter dead on the floor the next morning.
The trial is set to resume tomorrow. It is expected to last approximately two weeks.
