Greene makes first court appearance

Friends and relatives of Lisa Louise Greene sat in the courtroom Tuesday in tears as they learned when the woman’s next court appearance would be.
Greene, 41, is accused of killing her two children in a house fire and is scheduled for a probable cause hearing Feb. 1. She remains in the Cabarrus County Jail without bond.
Greene applied for a court-appointed attorney, who should be chosen within the next two weeks, court officials said.
As Greene’s supporters listened, the group took up the fourth and fifth rows of the Cabarrus County District Courtroom during Greene’s first court appearance.
She is charged with two counts of first-degree murder and one count of first-degree arson in connection with the deaths of her two children, 8-year-old Addison Brooke Macemore and 10-year-old Nathan “Daniel” Macemore. The two died in a Jan. 10 house fire that deputies say was intentionally set. The home is at 10925 Candilara Lane, Midland.
About a dozen relatives stood outside the courtroom Tuesday morning waiting to learn when the hearing would begin.
One woman put up her hand and turned her head away, saying, “Go away, I don’t want to talk to you.”
In the courtroom, they watched as Greene entered the room for her 2:30 p.m. hearing.
Greene wore a green prisoner’s uniform, her face showed signs that she had been crying and she wiped tears from her eyes.
Judge Michael Knox presided over the hearing and when he asked Greene if she understood why she was there, she just nodded.
When she spoke, her voice was shaky, breaking with emotion.
Knox told Greene that if she is convicted of killing her children, she could face a maximum of life in prison without parole or even the death penalty.
Cabarrus County District Attorney Roxann Vaneekhoven has already said she is “strongly considering” the death penalty. Vaneekhoven said she will make a decision after she reviews the investigation report.
After Tuesday’s hearing, Greene’s supporters refused to talk. As one man stepped outside the courthouse he was greeted by four television cameras and a photographer.
“Out of the way, out of the way, out of the way,” the man snapped, waving his hands as he moved through the crowd.
The group left the courthouse, making their way to their cars.
One woman was in tears as the lady next to her shouted, “Please don’t bother her right now.”
As reporters followed the group one person asked if they were supporting Greene.
The woman was in tears as she turned to news crews.
“I’m supporting her,” she said. “And I’m praying for her.” -Michael Knox