The trial of a northern Kentucky woman accused of shooting and killing her lawyer boyfriend is scheduled to begin with opening statements early Monday afternoon. Shayna Hubers, who was then 21, is accused of shooting and killing Ryan Poston, who was then 29, on October 12, 2012. After the shooting, Hubers called 911 to say that she shot and killed Poston in self defense. However, less than two weeks earlier, Hubers wrote to a friend that she wanted to shoot and kill Poston and “play like it’s an accident.”
Hubers is accused of shooting Poston six times, including in the face. She said he was vain and that she wanted to give him the “nose job he wanted.” Her case became nationally known as the case of the “nose job killer.”
Hubers was previously tried and convicted of murder. A juror in her original trial failed to disclose a felony conviction. Therefore, a new trial was ordered. Felons are ineligible for jury service in Kentucky.
During the first trial, those who knew Poston described him as kind-hearted. However, several family members testified he was interested in leaving Hubers. Witness Carissa Carlisle, a Poston relative who was also a friend to Hubers, referred to Hubers as “restraining-order-level crazy.” She testified that Poston “was trying to end the relationship . . . he was too nice about it . . . he never wanted to hurt her feelings.” Another relative said Poston was interested in dating another woman but feared Hubers would case problems if he did so.
Hubers, however, said Poston was abusive. She said Poston tried to hit her during an argument at his condominium, so she grabbed a gun, shot him, and then shot him until he was dead “so that he wouldn’t suffer.” Hubers’ mother said that Poston gave her “the creeps.”
Witnesses at Hubers’ first trial included jailhouse snitches who said she discussed planning to play the role of an abused partner all along.
Hubers was charged with murder after a series of bizarre statements and behaviors immediately after the shooting raised the suspicions of the responding officers. Hubers did not cry, appeared happy, and stated that she was worried no one would marry her if they learned about the shooting.
Hubers did marry, however, in a jailhouse ceremony while her second trial was pending.
Defense attorneys tried to move the case away from Campbell County, Kentucky, where the trial is being held. They argued that pretrial publicity would make it difficult to seat an unbiased jury. However, that move backfired when it turned out the notary who was investigating the extent of pretrial publicity forged 118 out of 156 affidavits submitted in an attempt to prove the extent of the publicity the case had generated. That notary was in turn charged and pleaded guilty.
In an interview with local television station WCPO-TV, Hubers said she feared she wouldn’t be able to get a fair trial in Campbell County. She also said she was going to make it a “surprise” as to whether she’d testify.
[Image via mugshot.]