Ronnie Hyde’s attorney said the Jacksonville Beach man will plead not guilty to the gruesome 1994 murder of a teenager.
Hyde is the prime suspect in the murder of 16-year-old Fred Laster, whose dismembered torso was found near a Lake City dumpster.
Hyde’s attorney, Ann Finnell, said Hyde is “steadfastly maintaining his innocence.”
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His arraignment is set for April 11.
“I hope that he is steadfastly innocent on that. That would be a good thing,” said Hyde’s cousin, who asked Action News Jax to conceal his identity.
Finnell has successfully worked on several high-profile cases, including those of Casey Anthony and Brenton Butler, whose case was featured in an Oscar-winning documentary.
Another of Finnell's clients, Ryan Wilder, was found guilty in the 2012 murder of Clay County Detective David White.
“Well, from what I’ve – the things that were said about her, I think it would be probably a pretty good choice there,” said Hyde’s cousin of Hyde choosing Finnell to represent him.
Action News Jax law and safety expert Dale Carson said the defense benefits from the evidence being more than two decades old, but there are challenges too.
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“I think the way the case was broken open has tainted the jury panel significantly in the community. And there may be a belief that Hyde is guilty when the state has yet to prove their case against him,” Carson said.
Investigators said a flannel shirt with Hyde's DNA on it was found near Laster's dismembered torso.
Laster's family said Hyde was the teen's youth pastor.
Earlier this month, Hyde filed an application for indigent status, saying he couldn’t afford an attorney and needed a public defender.
The application was rejected.
Hyde’s cousin said he does not know how Hyde is paying for Finnell to represent him.
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