CLAY COUNTY, Fla. — The Clay County contractor who was found guilty by a jury of first-degree murder on a client of his on Oct. 14, filed a motion on Wednesday, asking for a new trial.
First Coast News witnessed Corey Binderim stoic and emotionless when he learned of his conviction for killing 65-year-old Susan Mauldin, who paid him $12,000 for work on her Fleming Island home's bathroom.
According to police records, Binderim demolished the bathroom and didn't finish the job.
On Oct. 24, 2019, Mauldin was reported missing. Then on Jan. 29, 2020, her remains were found at Chesser Island Road Landfill in Folkston, Ga.
The Florida Times-Union reported that Mauldin intended to sue Binderim. Furthermore, a friend testified during the trial that Mauldin had planned to call police.
There were seven votes in favor of the death penalty, and five for life imprisonment without the possibility for parole from the jury, as first-degree murder is punishable by the death penalty in Florida. The threshold to move a death sentencing forward is eight votes.
“Life without the possibility of parole holds Corey Binderim fully accountable, for justice to be done,” said defense attorney Jim Hernandez.
The motion filed by Hernandez has 16 reasons listed as to why Binderim should be granted a new trial, which are below:
- The verdict is contrary to law.
- The verdict is contrary to the facts.
- The court erred in not granting the defendant's motion for judgment of acquittal after the state rested.
- The court erred in not granting the defendant's motion for judgment of acquittal after the defense rested.
- The court erred in not granting the defendant's motion for arrest of judgment and judgment of acquittal.
- The court erred by granting the state's motion for pre-trial ruling (admissibility of statements under forfeiture by wrongdoing hearsay exception).
- The court erred by not granting the defense hearsay objections during Ms. Yates, Ms. Strickland, Ms. Fugate and Ms. Wright's testimony regarding out of court statements by Ms. Mauldin.
- The court erred by not granting the defense hearsay objections to the admissibility of Ms. Mauldin's journal/papers and testimony of Mr. Fryer to the comments thereof.
- The court erred by not granting the defense's motion in limine to prohibit the state from admitting historical data from life 360 and admitting said data and related testimony and state's exhibits over defense's renewed objection during Special Agent Corley's testimony.
- The court erred by admitting over defense objection the maps created by Special Agent Corley.
- The court erred by not granting the motion to prohibit other crimes or acts. The court also erred by not granting the defense's renewed objection during Leigh Ann Stansbury and Thomas Smith testimony.
- The court erred by not granting defendant's motion to prohibit other crimes or acts. The court also erred by not granting the defense's renewed objection during Doug Houser and Mr. Fryer's testimony.
- The court erred by not granting the defense's motion in limine to prohibit the state from admitting evidence of testosterone and anabolic steroids found in Corey Binderim's truck and renewed objection during the testimony of CSI Kern's testimony.
- The court erred by not granting state's objection to expert testimony under Fl. Statute 90.702 and 90.704 and prohibiting the defense's DNA expert (Dr. Kalufut) from testifying to his activity proposition likelihood ratio.
- The court erred by not granting defendant's motion to suppress testimony that K( Wall-E (Cadaver Dog) supposedly alerted at Mr. Binderim's storage unit. The court further erred by admitting the testimony of Mr. Long and Mr. Strickland and other witnesses who testified regarding the dog's alert over defense's renewed objection.
- The court erred by not granting the defendant's motion for arrest of judgment and judgment of acquittal.
As it currently stands, the judge who presided over the trial will take up the motion in a court hearing on Oct. 29 at 9 a.m., the same day Binderim is set to be sentenced.
