The Mayhem of Hannah Mahmoud

Grapeseed Farmer's Market

For those that need a brief summary for this tale, Hannah Mahmoud, a.k.a The Grapeseed Pisser, faced a couple of chickens at a bench trial last month after violently terrorizing and vandalizing the residents and property of Grapeseed. Not cowardly, human individuals, but actual farm poultry - they were witness to some heinous behavior and were only one piece of an ever expanding puzzle that connected Miss Mahmoud to crimes ever sinister… murder. That particular bench trial concluded with Hannah Mahmoud being found guilty of Vandalism of Government property after fighting the charge, but had early admitted guilt for other crimes and had to wait for a formal trial for the more serious charges. 

Grapeseed, a picturesque farming community outside of the bustling city. First impressions would naturally make you think of how peaceful life must be there. Crop fields stretching out over the tilled land. Domestic farm animals happily munching on their feed. Locals watching the sunset after an honest day's work of growing produce and rearing their stock. How nightmarish it must be to wake up to news that not only one, but two beloved farmers were horrifically and brutally murdered.

Grapeseed, home to the famed Farmer’s Market that recently expanded to the nearby airfield. Newly established food truck businesses adorning the sides of the market area, with a stage hosting an open mic and a running space for team cone relays. Locals and surrounding state denizens alike drinking up the atmosphere and absorbing the country delights. How surprising it must be to be told a murder trial would be held at the market after the event wound down. 

Grapeseed, a community crying for justice and pleading to finally be rid of the mayhem of Hannah Mahmoud. How anxious they must be to find out how this trial and tale of The Grapeseed Pisser would play out.

Trial held at Grapeseed Farmer's Market

Of course, it is highly unusual for a formal trial to be held outside the traditional courtroom, yet the request for it to be held in Grapeseed after the Farmer’s Market was officially granted with sympathies to the community the results of the trial would deeply affect. Hannah fought against multiple charges during this formal trial, charges which were: Murder x2, Violation of Court Order x1, Animal Cruelty x1, Criminal Threats x2 and Witness Tampering x1. Prosecution asked for the punishment to be life imprisonment or 60 years with parole and there was a special request from the Grapeseed community that Hannah Mahmoud also be permanently banished from Grapeseed for public safety and peace of mind. The Judge took note of this but ruled that there would be no last minute changes to sentencing before court was called into session and both the Defence and Prosecution performed their opening statements.  

The Prosecution's opening statement highlighted the details of the investigation and why they believed the accused to be guilty. Two separate murder weapons, two separate victims. Hannah broke bail and committed more crimes like a menace. The Defence wanted to bring reasonable doubt to the case and accused the Sherriff’s Department of prejudice and harassment towards Miss Mahmoud who simply wanted to work on her tattooing career. Two of the witnesses, one of which was a doctor that worked with the investigation and performed the autopsies of the murder victims, could not attend the trial; leaving only Senior Lead Deputy Riley Reads and Lieutenant Deputy Harold StockHerd Well to take to the stand as witnesses - as well as the accused, Hannah Mahmoud, herself.

The Defense and Miss Mahmoud

Senior Lead Deputy Riley is sworn in to testify and the questioning begins with the Prosecution. The Senior Lead Deputy described how they discovered the first body, Farmer Tim, and what they found at the scene and the autopsy report. The key evidence of this murder were the DNA samples and the metal fragments found in the deceased’s skull which both were matched to the bat Hannah was found with. Hannah, after her arrest, was granted bail under strict conditions, which the Senior Lead Deputy let the court know were broken by Hannah. Questioning was then turned over to the Defense, who took aim at the reliability of the Senior Lead Deputy, who had to check her report to clarify details and facts. The Senior Lead Deputy insisted that she was reliable, and so the Defence stepped aside.

Next, Lieutenant Deputy Harold took to the stand for a lengthy account of the events surrounding the first murder. He described how Hannah suggested they should check on Farmer Tim during a past bench trial, described finding Hannah walking down the street covered in pig’s blood with a bloodied knife in her possession. Threats made towards Senior Lead Deputy via a decapitated pig’s head left in the Sheriff's office with a note directed at her. Not to mention, threats made towards the Lieutenant over a phone call. Most recently the events during the capture of Hannah Mahmoud following a police chase and evading arrest. During detainment, they found a bat and knife on the accused and another note upon discovering the second body, which once again directed threats at the Senior Lead Deputy.

The Prosecution

During the Defenses cross-examination, they pushed the Lieutenant to explain how they knew it was Hannah on the phone to them during the time threats were directed towards him. It was an unknown number which did not match the phone records of Miss Mahmoud. The Lieutenant insisted that he knew because of her voice and mannerisms but admitted they did not have tangible proof, just suspicion. The questioning took an odd turn when the Defense then asked the Lieutenant if they knew what a luau was and what was served there, possibly suggesting that the pig’s head was not necessarily a threat.

The Judge then called for a brief recess at that point.

The Judge calling for recess

The only person left to testify and cross-examine was the accused herself. With evidence mounting up against her and the odd circumstances of the trial, what could she possibly say? Once the Judge stepped back onto the Farmer’s Market stage and called the session back in court, Hannah was sworn in and the Defense stepped up to question her. The Grapeseed Pisser made it known that she did not call the Lieutenant as accused, the records had shown quite clearly it was not her number. Concerning the pig, she explained, with the help of the Defense, that she was practicing the art of tattooing. A typical material to train on was pig’s skin. Hannah insisted she would never kill a pig herself, that was far too cruel. Another sticking point in Hannah’s defense was that she did not realize she had broken bail, because it was not written down or even explained to her.

The biggest, and maybe oddest testimony of the evening, was when questioned by the Prosecution about the bloody weapons found on her that were connected to the murders, Hannah insisted both were given to her by a mysterious and unknown man wearing a black trenchcoat and hat. Hannah testified that she was too afraid of him to refuse, but could not give a name or where this individual went to after their two encounters. 

After both the Defense and Prosecution’s closing statements, after the Judge took some time to head back to his chambers to think over what he had heard during the session, everyone waited with bated breath wondering what would be decided. At this point, reader, have you made up your own mind about the verdict? Was Hannah Mahmoud guilty without a doubt, or an individual who was misunderstood and picked on by the Sheriff’s Department?

Hannah at the stand

The Judge re-entered the court to explain his verdict, putting a lot of thought into his words.

Due to both murder weapons being found on Miss Mahmoud and with DNA evidence connecting her to both murder victims, the Judge found Hannah Mahmoud guilty of Murder x2. The Judge, though acknowledging that yes, at a luau pig’s heads are present, he did not believe that the intention of Hannah was to throw a party for the Sheriff’s Department, especially since there were threats carved into the pig’s head and a note left next to it. Guilty of Animal Cruelty x1. The threats against Senior Lead Deputy Riley Reads were pretty clear but because Lieutenant Harold did not have actual evidence it was Hannah who called him, the Judge found Hannah guilty of only 1x Criminal Threat. Finally, the Judge didn’t buy that Hannah didn’t know her bail conditions and so found her guilty of Violating Court Order x1.

The sentence handed down to The Grapeseed Pisser was 30 years with 26 years of served jail time taken off, leaving 4 years jail time. Following release, Miss Mahmoud would have 45 years of probation and would have to pay a $50,000 fine. As a victory for the Grapeseed residents who are still recovering from the murders and mayhem, Hannah Mahmoud is also trespassed from Grapeseed during her probation period.

And so this concludes this chapter of The Grapeseed Pisser. Will this be the end of the story, or will there be more to follow after her release from jail? Considering how this chaotic story has unfolded, who is to know? Perhaps only the mysterious man in the trenchcoat truly knows that answer... If he ever was real to begin with?