Murder suspect pleads not guilty in Colby death Handcuffed Hackett makes defiant show in court

AUGUSTA – Edward Hackett’s second appearance Tuesday in a Maine courtroom since he was arrested and charged with killing a Colby student was markedly different from his first appearance more than a month ago.

Hackett, 47, a Utah parolee, is charged with kidnapping and murdering Dawn Rossignol, 21, of Medway on Sept. 16. She was reported missing that day, and her body was found the next day in a stream in Oakland, just minutes from the Waterville campus.

In that first appearance in Waterville District Court on Oct. 2, Hackett appeared sluggish and unsteady on his feet. He did not speak to reporters and was extremely subdued.

Tuesday morning, however, an angry and defiant Hackett entered Kennebec County Superior Court in Augusta for his arraignment on six charges, including murder. He was handcuffed and his hands were shackled to a belt around his waist. He also wore leg chains.

Standing beside his attorney, Pamela Ames, Hackett entered pleas of not guilty to all six indictments – kidnapping, aggravated assault, robbery with the use of a weapon (knife), theft with the use of a weapon, unlawful sexual contact with penetration, and intentional and knowing murder – but not before he threw a few choice words at reporters.

Hackett was agitated while waiting for the hearing to begin and remained guarded by five Kennebec County deputies. He rocked in his seat and held the middle fingers of both hands high, aiming them at reporters and camera operators. He also made lewd physical gestures at reporters and called them profane names. Representatives of two daily newspapers, two television stations and reporters for the Colby College newspaper were in attendance at the brief hearing.

Hackett had been seated near reporters while awaiting the hearing, and Ames asked that he be moved to the defendants’ table in the center of the courtroom. “He’s out of control,” she told a bailiff.

Once seated by Ames, Hackett appeared calmer, but continued his lewd gestures. At one point Ames leaned toward her client and said, “Ed, you need to trust me.”

Justice Donald Marden accepted Hackett’s not guilty pleas and gave Ames and Deputy Attorney General William Stokes 60 days to file any motions in the case.

Conviction on the murder charge can lead to a sentence of 25 years to life in prison; kidnapping and robbery with a weapon could result in up to 40 years each; and aggravated assault and theft with a weapon could be up to 10 years.

When the hearing ended, Hackett sat down in gallery seating and refused to leave until a court officer loudly said, “Mr. Hackett, the judge wants you out of this courtroom.” On his way out, Hackett repeated the obscene exclamations to reporters.

After the hearing, Ames explained that her client was upset with journalists because of details of his case that had been published earlier. In particular, Hackett objected to references to a sign at the site in Oakland where Rossignol’s body had been found. Ames said railroad security had investigated the sign and it had no connection to Hackett’s alleged crime.

Hackett also was upset that details contained in court documents, referring to his alleged sexual fantasies about raping a 21-year-old blond woman, had been made public. He also objected to reports that he allegedly raped Rossignol. Although court documents stated that Rossignol suffered “substantial head injuries and had been sexually assaulted,” Hackett was indicted for “unlawful sexual contact that included penetration.”

On the courthouse steps, Ames explained why Hackett pleaded not guilty when he already had made a public confession of guilt in a newspaper interview published in mid-October.

“At this point, I have no choice,” she explained. Ames said that until she has had a chance to go over all of the evidence against Hackett, some of which she only received Tuesday, she must not allow him to plead guilty.

She did not rule out the possibility, however, that a guilty plea could be entered once all evidence is reviewed.

Ames said that Hackett is eager to accept responsibility for his actions and proceed to his sentencing but “we must go through the process.” Ames also confirmed that Hackett had fired her recently and threatened to hire a new defense team. “That is not unusual for a jail setting,” said Ames, who added, “He has unfired me.”

Hackett already has undergone psychological testing for his defense, conducted by Dr. Gary Rasmussen, and now will undergo forensic testing by the state’s psychological team.

Hackett is being held without bond and remains at Kennebec County Jail in isolation, said Ames.