Man's bond reduced in child murder case

COEUR d’ALENE — After an adamant plea Thursday by the defense attorney of a Post Falls man accused of murdering a 7-month-old girl, a First District judge reduced the $1 milliion bond to $250,000.

Jason Johnson, the defense attorney for Cody J. Hull, 24, said his client was innocent and no evidence exists to show he was involved in the toddler’s death.

“You have to prove murder and forethought, and there is zero evidence that my client had anything to do with this crime,” Johnson said at a morning hearing in Coeur d’Alene. “The child died. It has not been proven the child was murdered.”

Judge Scott Wayman said he had a lot more information about Cody Hull’s circumstances to make a bonding decision than when Hull was charged a month ago for the murder of his girlfriend’s daughter. And although he refused to release Hull on his own recognizance, as Johnson has asked since Hull’s May 2 indictment, Wayman reduced the bond to a quarter of the original amount.

Hull is accused in the Nov. 24 death of the child, who died of brain swelling reportedly caused by blunt force trauma, according to a grand jury indictment that included the testimony of 16 witnesses including doctors and sheriff’s office investigators. A two-week trial is scheduled beginning Oct. 2 in Coeur d’Alene.

Hull’s bond was set at $1 million last month despite statements from Johnson that his client is employed at Walmart, has no criminal history, a supportive family including the deceased child’s mom, and that Hull grew up in the area.

Deputy prosecutor Laura McClinton refuted some of Johnson’s statements, accusing Hull of being a threat to society and saying he should remain in jail with a high bond because he is a flight risk.

“It is my understanding that he has lived here several years, but he is not a lifetime resident,” McClinton said. “He lived in California prior and was getting into trouble and left California.”

Hull was left alone with the child for two hours when the toddler died and, despite the tragic incident, he is still involved with the child’s mother, McClinton said.

“The baby was fine when the mother left for work,” McClinton said.

The autopsy showed “bleeding in all parts of the brain,” she said.

Johnson countered that the toddler was ill before she died.

“(She) had been lethargic for days,” Johnson said.

Wayman ordered that time be allowed for grand jury transcripts to be turned over to defense counsel, and the judge allowed a delay of 30 days for pretrial motions to be filed once Johnson and his client receive the transcript.

If convicted, Hull could face a minimum 10 years behind bars and a maximum life sentence.