Jennifer Amell

That said, Paul Oakes is not the Mr. X referred to at trial. He's not the man the defense is pointing their finger at. Around 4.30 or 5 p.m. the day of the murder, Tallman arrives in South Royalton. He had gone there to spend the night at his friend's trailer, and his friend was a pretty strange dude called Albert Sargent.

That said, Paul Oakes is not the Mr. X referred to at trial. He's not the man the defense is pointing their finger at. Around 4.30 or 5 p.m. the day of the murder, Tallman arrives in South Royalton. He had gone there to spend the night at his friend's trailer, and his friend was a pretty strange dude called Albert Sargent.

The defense then reveals that Albert Sargent is Mr. X. So the defense is alleging that Albert Sargent is the real killer of Heidi Martin. This must have been a bombshell moment. Here's Robert Kiner.

The defense then reveals that Albert Sargent is Mr. X. So the defense is alleging that Albert Sargent is the real killer of Heidi Martin. This must have been a bombshell moment. Here's Robert Kiner.

Okay, buckle up. It's about to get confusing and strange, but stick with me. Albert Sargent's alibi is that he was at home that Sunday having a barbecue. He also said his car wasn't working. Later, Sargent said that he wasn't home when Dilbert Tallman turned up the evening of the murder. Tallman actually confirms this, saying Sargent and his car weren't there when he arrived.

Okay, buckle up. It's about to get confusing and strange, but stick with me. Albert Sargent's alibi is that he was at home that Sunday having a barbecue. He also said his car wasn't working. Later, Sargent said that he wasn't home when Dilbert Tallman turned up the evening of the murder. Tallman actually confirms this, saying Sargent and his car weren't there when he arrived.

However, Sargent's roommate, William DeNico, was at home, so DeNico and another friend, Deborah Franklin, testified that they were at Sargent's trailer and confirmed that Sargent was home when Tallman arrived, and they saw the pair of them talking. Afterward, Sargent announced to the group that Tallman was wanted for murder.

However, Sargent's roommate, William DeNico, was at home, so DeNico and another friend, Deborah Franklin, testified that they were at Sargent's trailer and confirmed that Sargent was home when Tallman arrived, and they saw the pair of them talking. Afterward, Sargent announced to the group that Tallman was wanted for murder.

So, two witnesses are putting Sargent at home by around 5.30 or 6 p.m., when Tallman arrives. Delbert Tallman is then called to the stand in his own defense, a risky move considering his suggestibility. Yet Kiner says this was exactly what they wanted to demonstrate, that Tallman would change his story to agree with whoever was asking.

So, two witnesses are putting Sargent at home by around 5.30 or 6 p.m., when Tallman arrives. Delbert Tallman is then called to the stand in his own defense, a risky move considering his suggestibility. Yet Kiner says this was exactly what they wanted to demonstrate, that Tallman would change his story to agree with whoever was asking.

Tallman went on to give several confused versions of events of May 20th. Number one, he was sitting under the covered bridge when he heard yelling and screaming. Tallman then followed the noise into the woods off of Martinsville Road and hid behind a tree where he claimed to have witnessed Heidi's murder.

Tallman went on to give several confused versions of events of May 20th. Number one, he was sitting under the covered bridge when he heard yelling and screaming. Tallman then followed the noise into the woods off of Martinsville Road and hid behind a tree where he claimed to have witnessed Heidi's murder.

Two, then he said he heard yelling on top of the bridge and then two people running over the bridge. In both of these versions, Tallman runs into the woods and witnesses none other than his friend, Albert Sargent, pull a knife and stab Heidi Martin. Tallman said he was 10 to 15 feet away from the murder and looked directly at Sargent's face.

Two, then he said he heard yelling on top of the bridge and then two people running over the bridge. In both of these versions, Tallman runs into the woods and witnesses none other than his friend, Albert Sargent, pull a knife and stab Heidi Martin. Tallman said he was 10 to 15 feet away from the murder and looked directly at Sargent's face.

Number three, uncrossed by the prosecution, Tallman tells yet another story. He says he was under the bridge when he heard, quote, sneakers and cowboy boots running over the covered bridge. He said Albert always wore cowboy boots, and he got back up on the road in time to see a man with a plaid shirt, dungarees, and cowboy boots run out of sight.

Number three, uncrossed by the prosecution, Tallman tells yet another story. He says he was under the bridge when he heard, quote, sneakers and cowboy boots running over the covered bridge. He said Albert always wore cowboy boots, and he got back up on the road in time to see a man with a plaid shirt, dungarees, and cowboy boots run out of sight.

Tallman said he knew it was Sargent even though he didn't see his face. Then Tallman ran into the woods and stood behind, quote, a large white birch tree. He said Sargent covered Heidi's mouth so she wouldn't scream anymore. Then he said he took off on a shortcut through the woods to the cemetery.

Tallman said he knew it was Sargent even though he didn't see his face. Then Tallman ran into the woods and stood behind, quote, a large white birch tree. He said Sargent covered Heidi's mouth so she wouldn't scream anymore. Then he said he took off on a shortcut through the woods to the cemetery.

And this, of course, is where witness Robert Matheson said he saw Tallman stumbling out of the woods, covered in mud. Number four, he was sitting under the bridge, quote, thinking and drinking a beer when he heard screams about a half mile up the creek, quote, I said, hell, I might as well see where it's coming from. I had a funny feeling Albert was down there doing something dumb.

And this, of course, is where witness Robert Matheson said he saw Tallman stumbling out of the woods, covered in mud. Number four, he was sitting under the bridge, quote, thinking and drinking a beer when he heard screams about a half mile up the creek, quote, I said, hell, I might as well see where it's coming from. I had a funny feeling Albert was down there doing something dumb.