Corey Beekman Trial Scheduled for This Week: Murder or Self-Defense?

[XLFD]

Few would argue that the most interesting 'murder' case of the last decade in Mason County was the case the State had against Sean Phillips as regards the disappearance of 'Baby Kate' way back in 2011.  A 2012 jury trial was held which found him guilty of unlawful imprisonment and he was sentenced to 10-15 years.  It would take another jury trial in 2016 to find him guilty of 2nd degree murder and give him an additional 19-45 years of incarceration.  Baby Kate's body has yet to turn up, despite a well-publicized and peopled 2014 search in areas around Modjeski Road and several leads that never turned up anything.

The legal questions and decisions that followed the 'Baby Kate' trials were complex, and Sean Phillips' silence throughout both trials seems not to have helped his cause for freedom in either case.  Another complex trial is about to begin in earnest and is definitely the early qualifier for this decade's most interesting court case in our county.  It is scheduled to start this week, in-person, on Monday, with two days set aside for jury selection at the Peterson Auditorium, and a trial start being likely for Wednesday in the courthouse.   

On Tuesday, April 16, 2019, about ten minutes before sunrise, law enforcement from several agencies responded to a shooting on an 80 acre farm in Freesoil Township just off the highway.  Kaitlin Buck had called 911 to report of an active shooter situation.  This was the sheriff's press conference later that day explaining some of what happened that morning from their perspective:

 

The shooter's name was the homeowner, Corey Ryan Beekman, the shooting victim's name was William 'Billy' Buchanan of Mears.  All adults involved were 32 years old and alleged to have known each other.  Kaitlin was actually Corey's roommate, staying at the farm with her two elementary school age children for an extended period.  Billy's presence at the house around 6:45 AM was never clearly explained by the authorities, he doesn't seem to have been invited in by Corey at that time.  

Kaitlyn's testimony in the ensuing arraignment and preliminary hearing has been the main driver of serious charges leveled by the State against Corey Beekman, which originally included open murder and assault with intent to commit murder.  These have been dialed back to second degree murder and felonious assault, these were accompanied by two felony firearm charges.  Corey has remained quiet over the 15 months he has been incarcerated.  

One could easily assume that this isn't a difficult case, it seems indisputable that Corey shot and killed Billy.  But there is a lot more here than just the sometimes self-contradictory claims by Kaitlin and the evidence displayed so far by the prosecution to bind it over for trial.  

-Ballistics indicate that all shots fired that morning were taken by Corey deep in his bedroom, the shell-casing's locations validating the ballistics, the shots aimed through the doorway.

-The bedroom's door had been freshly busted open, the strike-plate lying on the ground inside, the door still in the locked position. 

-The presence of a weapon and a flashlight on Billy, who was allegedly over to help Kaitlin move

-A toxicology report, suppressed until recently by the prosecutor, showing high levels of several illegal drugs in Billy's system.

- the continued suppression by the prosecutor of a drug test taken by Kaitlyn that morning at the hospital, she who boldly 'testified that neither she nor Buchanan used any drugs'. 

 

With this information, and other evidence pointing the same way, a fair juror may conclude at the end of this murder trial that Kaitlin Buck's evolving testimonies are suspect and that Corey Beekman in actuality shot an armed, drug-impaired man busting into his bedroom at 6:45 in the morning and intent on further mischief.   Self-defense, castle doctrine, seem as if they may apply.

And that's why this trial should be very interesting and more complex than first imagined.  The Ludington Torch will be following this case very closely.

[Willy]

I don't remember much about this crime. I was aware of it but did not follow the legal process. Your right, this will be an interesting look into a major local crime. I will definitely be interested in your take on how the trial progresses and how and what evidence is presented. It's sad that 2 children were caught up in this mess.

[XLFD]

Today the Beekman murder case has been dismissed.  Justice prevails.  Beekman has sat in jail for way too long already due to prosecutorial dysfunction and public misinformation.  Special thanks to the Beekman family, who have stood firmly behind Corey when officials wanted to prosecute him with physical evidence pointing towards innocence all along.

“This morning, Mason County Prosecuting Attorney Paul Spaniola announced that charges against Corey Ryan Beekman of Free Soil are being dismissed without prejudice,” states a press release issued by Spaniola’s office Tuesday. “Beekman had been charged with second-degree murder, assault with a dangerous weapon, and felony firearm for the shooting death of William Craig Buchanan of Mears and the wounding of Kaitlin Michelle Buck on April 16, 2019. A nine-day jury trial was scheduled to commence in Mason County Circuit Court on Sept. 22. The trial had been delayed on several occasions due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Spaniola explained that the dismissal of the charges at this time is due to the unavailability of witnesses. Without this important testimony, justice would not be able to be served. Mr. Beekman is considered innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

“A dismissal without prejudice means that charges may be refiled at a later date. The statute of limitations on a homicide never expires and the case may be brought forward at a future date. Said Spaniola: ‘I am optimistic that one day this case may be able to be heard so that Billy Buchanan and his family can receive the justice they deserve.'”

Beekman, who has been lodged in the Mason County Jail on a $750,000 bond since the time of the shooting, has been released.