- December 16, 2025
+ Judge overturns request for linguist in Miller trial
A linguist will not be allowed to testify during Paul Miller’s trial, a judge ruled Monday. Miller stands accused of second-degree murder after shooting his neighbor, Dana Mulhall, in March 2012 during an argument over barking dogs.
Miller’s defense attorney, Douglas Williams, requested in February that a linguist analyze Miller’s speech during a 911 call he placed immediately after the shooting. Williams said that because Miller is from the hills of Tennessee, he speaks in a nonstandard dialect that might confuse jurors.
Circuit Judge J. David Walsh approved the linguist to compile a report, which was funded by the state for $2,000. But on Monday, Walsh said it would not be used as evidence during Miller’s trial.
According to the linguist’s report, certain phrases Miller used were confusable to those who do not speak his dialect. For example, Miller told 911 dispatch that Mulhall had “begged” Miller to be shot.
“Mr. Miller’s use of ‘begged’ is readily interpretable as a commonplace of nonstandard dialect,” the report, which was prepared by Ronald Butters, says. “His sentence, ‘He begged me to shoot him,’ translates as ‘his hostile actions caused me to shoot him.’”
Jacquelyn Roys, who is prosecuting the case, argued that Miller speaks in "plain English" and that jurors do not need a linguist's interpretation to understand him.
Miller’s trial starts Monday.
+ Memorial Day ceremony to be held in Palm Coast
The city of Palm Coast will have a Memorial Day ceremony on Monday to remember the men and women who have died while serving in the U.S. military. The Ceremony will begin at 8:30 a.m., at Heroes Memorial Park, 2860 Palm Coast Pkwy. N.W.
Guest speakers will be U.S. Rep. Ron DeSantis, Cmdr. Lorenzo J. Nacci of Palm Coast Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 8696, and Palm Coast Mayor Jon Netts. The ceremony is open to the public.
All city offices will be closed Monday to observe the holiday.
+ Town hall meeting planned for Daytona North
Residents are invited to a town hall meeting at 6 p.m. May 23, at Hidden Trails Community Center, 6108 Mahogany Blvd., in Daytona North.
Flagler County Commissioner Nate McLaughlin and School Board member Andy Dance are co-hosting the event. They will provide information on county and school topics and take questions from the public.
Flagler County Sheriff Jim Manfre will also be there to speak and answer questions.
