Defense questions detective on statements

In the second day of hearings to suppress an alleged confession Lisa Greene gave to investigators, Greene’s defense attorneys quizzed a detective on tactics used to lure her to an interview.

Defense attorney Robert Campbell questioned Cabarrus County Sheriff’s Detective Kevin Pfister’s intentions when he told the court he had invited Greene to the sheriff’s office to fill out paperwork to reclaim custody of her Midland mobile home. Pfister testified he never intended for Greene to fill out any paperwork and the reason for the invitation was so investigators could question her about perceived inconsistencies in her original statement.

“I wanted her to cooperate. She may not have cooperated if I had told her the truth,” Pfister said.

Pfister testified that before inviting Greene for the interview he believed she played a role in her children’s deaths.

Defense attorneys filed the motion to strike a statement investigators said she gave where she admits culpability by allegedly telling detectives the fire started on a blanket she was carrying and she did nothing to extinguish it. Campbell told the court Greene had been prescribed Ativan, an anti-anxiety medication, and was taking the drug during detective questioning. According to a manufacturer’s warning, Ativan’s side effects include hallucinations, drowsiness, amnesia and forgetfulness.

Pfister testified Thursday Greene appeared lucid during questioning. He testified Friday he never asked Greene about her medication.

Campbell also inquired about why Pfister didn’t record or videotape Greene’s interview.

Pfister said he had never recorded a interview of a suspect, and that he had always relied on his handwritten notes.

Questioning intensified after Pfister remembered on the stand statements Greene made that weren’t in the final interview notes.

Pfister testified Greene told investigators: “I didn’t kill my youngins, y’all,” before and after she gave her alleged confession.

“You say she confessed, but at the same time she’s saying ‘I didn’t do it’,” Campbell said.

Campbell asked if there could be other things Greene told investigators that didn’t make it into the final interview notes.

“That is possible,” Pfister replied.

Suppression hearings will continue Monday. The trial phase is expected to last at least four weeks.

Greene is accused of killing her two children, Daniel Macemore, 10 and Addison Macemore, 8, in a Jan. 10, 2006 Midland mobile home fire. Both children died of carbon monoxide poisoning and smoke inhalation in the fire. Greene is charged with arson and two counts of murder and could face the death penalty if found guilty.