We are heartened to report that on Wednesday November 19 2008 El Cajon Superior Court Judge Louis R. Hanoian ruled there is sufficiant evidence to hold Shannon Shimp for trial and set a December 3 hearing to determine a date. Shimp is charged with two counts of murder and two counts of gross vehicular manslaughter and drunk driving causing injury.

Judge Hanoian's ruling of 'sufficiant evidence for trial' belies the rarity of such a ruling in murder cases like this. We appreciate El Cajon DA Monte Bennett for prosecuting this case so aggressively.

The next hearing will be in; Dept. 11, fourth floor at 1:25 pm Wednesday, Dec. 3 2008. All interested parties should feel free to attend as the court room is open to the public.

We're told the Court is 'aware and sensitive' to the presence of Ian's supporters as it is of Shannon's supporters. Please be respectfull of all parties present. Business casual dress is recommended. Thank you for your support.

'El Cajon man to stand trial for murder in DUI fatalities'
For Union-Tribune Staff Writer Ray Huard's complete artical go to SignOnSanDiego.com>News>Metro--El Cajon man to stand trial for murder in DUI fatalities

Court Date: November 3rd, 2008

This court date was an arraingment with new charges presented by the DA against the defense for 2nd Degree Murder on both counts of fatalaties. The Judge ordered a Preliminary trial for December 19th at 8:40 am.

Court Information and Update- Oct 9, 2008

We went to court yesterday for more formalities and another readiness hearing. As always, court is just not a pleasant place to be...especially when it's to share a room with the man that killed your son. But it is a necessary part of the legal process that we have to go through to seek justice.
The District Attorney announced to the court that they planned on announcing Second Degree murder charges at the arraignment hearing. This will potentially drastically change the amount of time that would be served upon conviction.
They will formally announce the charges at the next hearing. They are on the record now but the formal proceedings will be on Nov. 3rd. So with that, let me post the official information.

The next court dates are:

Arraignment Hearing
Monday Nov. 3, 2008
1:30 pm
Dept 2
El Cajon Courthouse

Preliminary Hearing
Wed. Nov, 19
8:40am
Dept 11
El Cajon Courthouse


Google map to El Cajon Courthouse

This is open court, anybody can attend. Make sure to get there early as parking is limited. You will have to go through security and walk through the metal detector.
We ask that you please dress appropriately. You don't have to dress up, but out of respect for the court we ask that you dress business casual.

Thank you all for your support. This could potentially be a long trial and we need all those close to us to help us through. Know that we love you and all your kindness will not be forgotten.

The MADD Walk

Thank you, thank you, thank you to all who participated in the MADD walk and/or donated to MADD! We exceeded our goal by a big amount!! We had hoped to bring in $1000 and instead we brought in $2375. Thank you so much!
It was an emotional day for all of us (and for everybody participating in the MADD walk). Although we all know that we lost Ian on that fateful day in July, it is still hard to believe. So seeing friends and family wearing T-Shirts with Ians image on the front, all there to walk in his honor..was a little bit overwhelming. Many tears were shed, hugs given and quiet moments shared.
We'd like to send a thank you to Chet Wooding and The T Shirt Factory at UCSD for helping to make the shirts. It's very appreciated.
Here are a few pictures from the MADD walk.

Even Little Maddy made it....although she was wiped out after..but she did 3 miles for her Uncle Ian! Not bad for a First Grader!

Criminal Court Proceedings and Dates:

The following information is provided for those interested in the the court case known as:

CE282395 The people vs. Shannon Kelly Shimp.

Unless otherwise noted all court proceedings for case# CE282395 will be held in:

Superior Court of California at the East County Regional Center,

250 East Main St., El Cajon, CA 92020.

If you would like to attend the Hearings and/or Trial you may want to arrive early because lines are common while entering the building through metal detectors and seating is limited.

Look to this blog for updated information on this case;

or log onto http://www.sdcourt.ca.gov/ to learn more about the court process.

July 22, 2008

The driver of the Chevy 3500 truck that killed his passenger, Joseph Edwards, and killed my son Ian Kinney and injured Ian's passenger, Tessa Medearis, was identified at the scene as Shannon Kelly Shimp of El Cajon, CA. Shimp's bail at the time of his arrest was set at approximately $260,000.00. Shimp is currently being held at: George F. Baily Detention Facility, 446 Alta Rd. San Diego, CA.

The Hearings

An Arraignment took place Friday, July 25, 2008 at 9 am. Our family and friends and Tessa's family and friends met for the first time with the prosecuting District Attorney: Monte Bennett. Among other things an increase in bail was requested by family. Upon review the Judge reset Shimp's bail to $406,500.00.

A (first) Pretrial/Readiness Hearing was scheduled for August 1, 2008 at 9 am.
At that hearing Shimp's newly hired attorney, Kerry Steigerwalt, asked for more time to prepare as he had just taken the case over from a court appointed Public Defender.

A (second) Pretrial/Readiness Hearing was set for September 11, 2008 at 9 am.
At this hearing the Defense once again asked for and was granted more time to prepare.

A (third) Pretrial/Readiness Hearing is scheduled for: October 9, 2008 at 9 am.
If the defense states that they are ready to go forward, a Preliminary Hearing scheduled for October 16, 2008 will happen. We will keep you informed.

Please join Debra, Scott, Family and Friends for WALK LIKE MADD

Saturday, September 20, 2008.

J Street Marina in Chula Vista, California

Registration: 8 am; Special Event: 9 am; Walk Begins: 9:30 am

Deb, has organized one of two teams walking in Ian's name.
Log onto www.maddsandiego.org or www.walklikemadd.org
Click on: 'Select City', and select: San Diego;
Click on 'Join an Existing Team';
Type in team Name: Ian's Best Friends;
Click on 'Search for a Team';
A window will appear with:
Name: 'Ian's Best friends', Team Captain: 'Debra Kinney', Division: 'Friends and family' Click on: 'Join'
Follow the prompts to become a 'Walker' or 'Virtual Walker' and so on.
If you would like to sponsor a walker you may pledge online with a credit Card or send your check to: Madd San Diego County, 10731 Treena St. suite 100, San Diego, CA 92131.
Make your check payable to: Madd San Diego County.
Write in memo: Walk like Madd Team: Ian's Best Friends.
If you need assistance you may call us @ 760 765 1688 after 10 am or email Debra @ kinpro52@msn.com

Welcome family and friends of Ian Christopher Kinney.

This blog is dedicated with love to preserving the memory and legacy of our son Ian.

Tragically stolen from us July 22, 2008 @ 6pm by a drunk driver.

This is a place to share our grief, to try to understand it; and to learn how to better live with it.

One goal here is to share our families remembrances of Ian's life, how he grew up, how he lived, how he laughed, how he loved. We invite you to share your remembrances of Ian here too; or to simply share your thoughts.

Another goal is to share information about what has happened, since the collision, with Madd and with the courts. We will share, here, future Madd events and court dates in the hope that you will help support these efforts in Ian's name.

With great respect for those who loved Ian, thank you for caring. Scott Kinney and Family