Huggins Faces New Trial In Larson Murder

ORLANDO, Fla. -- Jim Larson is preparing to go through another capital murder trial of John Huggins, the man charged with kidnapping and killing his wife.

A jury convicted Huggins (pictured, left) in the death of Carla Larson, a College Park woman who was kidnapped and murdered five years ago, but the conviction was set aside because prosecutors held back evidence which was potentially beneficial to the defense, officials said.

Thanks to advocates in Canada, Huggins has been able to beg for pen pals and money, while publishing poetry and cynical cartoons about the prospect of being put to death.

Despite that, Jim Larson is trying to remain focused on the next step in his long trek toward justice.

"There's a part of my life when I'm sitting quietly and I think 'What's going to happen?" Larson said.

Meanwhile, WESH NewsChannel 2 has discovered poetry and artwork created by Huggins posted on the Internet. Larson said it's not right.

"It's sad this is the way it goes. I don't know how he has access to a computer in the first place," Larson said.

A group called the Canadian Coalition Against the Death Penalty provides death-row inmates like Huggins with free Web space. In a cartoon series, Mickey Mouse is put to death, not for justice, Huggins said, but for vengeance.

Huggins claims he's an innocent man.

"Do you think the prosecutor's office is going to let me come back from Death Row and show everyone in the media that they send innocent people to Death Row? No. They will use every trick they can get away with to save face," according to a Web posting by Huggins.

In this new trial, Larson said he wants the jury to see his face, and those of Carla Larson's loved ones, devastated by her death and determined to see Huggins pay with his life.

"I don't have much choice but to move on and go through this again. My whole family is going through it again," Larson said.

Huggins' lawyer, Orange and Osceola County public defender Bob Wesley, said it's too close to trial to comment on his strategy, but Larson is confident the outcome will be another conviction and death sentence for Huggins.

To comment on this story, send an e-mail to Bob Kealing.