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February 8, 2008
Posted: 03:03 PM ET

RENO, Nevada – Darren Mack stabbed his estranged wife to death on June 12, 2006 and then went on to the courthouse here where he fired one sniper shot (from a distance the length of three football fields) that smashed through double-paned glass, hitting the family court judge handling his divorce square in the chest.

Because that shot missed a major organ, Judge Chuck Weller survived and will testify during this hearing. I sat with Darren Mack Wednesday in the Washoe County jail for an exclusive one-on-one interview. Watch an excerpt

Now he sits as a murderer in full shackles in this packed courtroom.

On one side of the courtroom are Mack’s family and close friends. They are so very devoted to him and believe Judge Weller never gave him a fair shake during the divorce.

They say that Mack went off the deep end because he could never get people to look at what he believed was the truth, that he stabbed Charla Mack in self-defense because she came at him with a gun.

Mack’s family cried as 10 character witnesses took the stand to discuss the redeeming qualities of this former leader of Reno’s business community. The family is vocal, and grumbles noticeably during the hearing when rulings don’t go their way. They want so much more information to come out, but this is a limited sentencing hearing.

On the other side of the courtroom is Charla Mack’s mother, a lovely and sweet lady I got to know during the trial. She is sitting in silence as defense witnesses say negative things about her daughter — that Charla had a violent side, that she should be blamed for so much of this.

But Soorya Townley simply takes notes. She will be testifying as the mother of a murder victim. I am told she is very, very nervous but will talk about a daughter that was so precious to her and so many others, gone forever because of a stabbing so brutal her head was almost completely severed.

Jean Casarez, In Session correspondent

Filed under: Darren Mack • Jean Casarez • Sentencing


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siCKDog   February 8th, 2008 3:18 pm ET

That smirk on his face….. disgusting

Cindy   February 8th, 2008 3:21 pm ET

Where is the live trial online? I can’t find it.

mike wiley   February 8th, 2008 3:22 pm ET

what happened to seeing the rest othe trials live?? that was the avenue for us to continuing to follow live testimony etc. after the tv coverage was over for the day.

Terry W.   February 8th, 2008 3:24 pm ET

The cut-off time of 3 PM everyday of COURTROOM activities is a travesty!!! Especially today!!! Just before they were going to announce the verdict - poof - you guys are gone….I really thought the reason you dropped Star Jones’ show was so that there would be more COURT!

Please bring back the old days of COURT all day!

So, what was the verdict?

Thanks,
Terry W.

doris spano   February 8th, 2008 3:25 pm ET

could not believe arrest and trial appeared on courttv a 3pm while awaiting the judge in regard to darren mack sentencing….you guys have certainly lost me as a viewer….i was an avid courttv viewer…just loved watching from 9 am to 5 pm, maybe not straight thru…but when i walked into to my home, courttv was it….also star jones was ok, nothing to write home about……why can’t you people just put the trials on until 5PM?

Nita   February 8th, 2008 3:27 pm ET

You know, part of me wants to feel sorry for this guy, but the brutality of the stabbing suggests rage, not self defense. It just seems like overkill not to even mention the judge.

Kathy   February 8th, 2008 3:33 pm ET

It would have been nice to see the rest of the trial. As usual these days, Courttv ends just as the most interesting part is about to start. What is with you people? If you don’t want viewers, why not just take the network off the air. We suffered through Starr Jones, but atleast that show was better than the crime reruns you are now showing.

Chris Anderson   February 8th, 2008 3:36 pm ET

UGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I will never watch truTV again. I am so frustrated and fed up with the dumbing down of the station, I’ve had it. Here they are….MINUTES away from the Darren Mack sentencing….and the stupid station won’t extend coverage for just a FEW minutes to show the sentencing live?????

The truTV execs are complete idiots; another day in America where the dumbing down of the entire nation prevails. God help us!

susan lynn   February 8th, 2008 4:09 pm ET

I was very disappointed in the Judge’s remarks to Darren Mack and everyone in the courtroom. He finally had an opportunity to tell him what a sore loser and self-absorbed animal he is–I shouldn’t insult animals, like that. Instead, he gave a lesson on how the judicial system works; I learned all that in 5th grade.

mother victoria   February 8th, 2008 4:09 pm ET

where is the live feed from the court rooms? this page is not very clear for finding live trial coverage when you are station changes to true TV at two in the afternoon. Can the buttons be labeled more clearly please? also, this is my third request in as many days for assistance in locating the proper procedure for obtaining what you offer.

Diane   February 8th, 2008 4:49 pm ET

I heard the recording made by Charla Mack in the sentencing hearing today. I was very moved. Such a beautiful song with an amazingly beautiful voice. It speaks volumes of the hope and love Charla once had for her husband. As he listened Darren Mack showed this emotion as well. It was evident at some time in their lives they loved each other. Unfortunately Darren’s demonic controlling personality was stronger and Charla was at the losing end of his explosive violent behavior. If her recording was released I would buy it in a heartbeat! So beautiful!

amya   February 8th, 2008 4:55 pm ET

i truly dont know what to say about darren mack he is the craziest man ever.. he absolutely doesn’t understand what he did.. how he murdered his wife and shot a judge he is seriously crazy and need to be put away and locked up so no one can here his boring and unjustifiable defense..

kelly pedalino   February 8th, 2008 4:56 pm ET

I am so glad we won’t have to hear anymore crybaby, the world is against me excuses from this pathetic man. He obviously is a spoiled, self centered sociopath who snapped when things weren’t going his way. The fact that he could say with a straight face he killed his petite wife in self defense is laughable at best. I for one am happy to see him put away from the cameras and put away from society. Now, maybe he will find time to sit and think about how ridiculous he sounds each time he opens his mouth to explain his “legitimate” reasons for murder and attempted murder of two human beings.

Mary   February 8th, 2008 5:13 pm ET

This dirt bag should hang in public for his crime! he is such a cold and callous sorry human being. My heart goes out to his daughter who will grow up with the knowledge of him murdering her mother in cold blood. How could any child love a father like that?

Jerry Keys   February 8th, 2008 5:16 pm ET

The testimony was very emotional and very upsetting. When Darren got up to testify he was so very arogant. I honestly know that he intentionally murdered Charla because of his own words. He wanted to be in control of the courtroom and when he took the stand he showed the judge how his anger took control of his emotions.

Can someone tell me where to find the verdict in the sentencing. I can not find it online.

P.S. Jean you are a great reporter and I truely look forward to your reports.

Marie   February 8th, 2008 8:40 pm ET

This mans “affect” makes his claim of self defense a joke. He is more about “himself” than anything else. Everything is an excuse for him, someone else is always to blame. I find him to be ego-maniacal, which apparently his family ingrained in him (observation). The judge handed down a righteous sentence today. I think Mr. Mack is in for a rude awakening, after speaking out on the stand under the false belief that he wouldn’t be cross-examined…and now those words, since under oath, can and may be used against him should he be granted another trial.

Marion L.   February 9th, 2008 9:41 am ET

A man can butcher his wife, try to do the same to a Judge, run to Mexico, come back and claim he’s been victimized. He was allowed to plea, allowed to run his mouth at all of his precedings and then finally victimize Charlas Mother, family and friends with his words all over again !
However, Charlas Mother, Brother, Father and all the people speaking on her behalf, showed such grace, strength and character that it humbled me.
Charlas legacy and meory will be never forgotten.

alice ricci   February 9th, 2008 11:03 am ET

I am another disgruntled viewer who is very disappointed that your coverage ends at 3:00 pm.

First it was Catherine Crier who an amazing journalist, then Star Jones, what the heck is going on with Court tv or True tv. We are no longer getting trial coverage as it happens. That was the only reason I am paying to receive this coverage ” as it happens”.

Lets get back to coverage until 5

Sharon   February 9th, 2008 7:20 pm ET

I almost broke out laughing when Darrin Mack pretended to be sorrry that he had to kill Charla. He killed his wife and wanted the whole country to feel sorry for the fact he did not have a wife and his child was motherless.

I was a little upset that I watched all day only to be cheated out of the verdict.

Could not find the website that it is alledged that court tv continues on after 3p.m.

I really like the old formate better.

Regards,
Sharon
Lindsay, Ontario
Canada

JOYCE   February 11th, 2008 10:36 am ET

After faithfully watching the Darren Mack trial, I could not believe what I saw on Friday afternoon. Just as the judge was about to render his decision, you guys were OFF. Please go back to the old days of Court TV all day so that we do not miss anymore high-profile judgments.

Amy   February 11th, 2008 3:47 pm ET

I noticed more than one person commented on your shorter viewing hours. I agree with them. I is really frustrating to have the shows end so early and have to miss so much of the testimony. A good job is done by Bloom and Politan in the early show but it just isn’t the same as live.
I too shut my TV off when Bandfield and Ford is over. There is nothing else worth watching on your channel until much later in the evening.
Amy
Arizona

sue adair   June 25th, 2008 12:53 pm ET

I think if the jury in the entwhitstle case hangs. we should do away with our present jury system and try to find one where the jurist cannot be paid off or fall in love with the defemdant.

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Sidebar takes you behind the scenes of the day's legal headlines with breaking news and in-depth analysis from In Session's anchors and correspondents.

Contributors
Ashleigh Banfield
Co-anchor of the daily trial program Banfield and Ford: Courtside
Ashleigh Banfield
Jack Ford
A former prosecutor and co-anchor of the daily trial program Banfield & Ford: Courtside
Jack Ford
Lisa Bloom
Anchor of the daily trial program Lisa Bloom: Open Court
Lisa Bloom
Jami Floyd
Former defense attorney and anchor of her own daily program Jami Floyd: Best Defense
Jami Floyd
Fred Graham
Senior Editor Fred Graham covers legal news in Washington, D.C.
Fred Graham
Jean Casarez
Attorney Jean Casarez covers trials around the country
Jean Casarez
Beth Karas
Former prosecutor Beth Karas covers trials around the country
Beth Karas
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