Woman disguised herself as a man and gunned down daughter- in-law in front of her baby son over custody battle, court told

A woman is accused of gunning down her daughter-in-law in a shopping centre car park in broad daylight, a court has heard.

Joanna Hayes is on trial for the April 26, 2009, killing of her daughter-in-law, Heather Strube, 25, who police say was shot in the parking lot of a Target store in Snellville, Georgia.

Assistant District Attorney Christa Kirk claimed Hayes disguised herself as a man with a fake wig and moustache, then approached Ms Strube in the crowded parking lot in broad daylight.

On trial: Joanna Hayes is accused of shooting her daughter-in-law, Heather Strube, in a Georgia parking lot at point blank range

Disguise: Assistant District Attorney Christa Kirk claimed Hayes disguised herself as a man with a fake wig and moustache in order to commit a crime in the open



Ms Kirk said Hayes held a gun to Ms Strube's head and pulled the trigger, while Strube’s 18-month-old son, Carson, allegedly sat a few feet away, strapped into a car seat.

Prosecutors say Hayes' son, Steven Strube, had dropped off his son Carson with Ms Strube minutes before, in a planned visitation hand-off.

Mr Strube is not charged in connection with his estranged wife's death. Prosecutors say the motive was 'bad blood' between Hayes and Ms Strube, resulting from divorce proceedings between the Strubes.

The state claims Hayes did not want Ms Strube to get custody of Carson, and claims she accused Ms Strube of 'not being a good mother'.

Custody battle: The state claims Hayes did not want Ms Strube to get custody of her grandkid, and claims Hayes accused Ms Strube of 'not being a good mother'

Prosecutors say witnesses described a truck similar to the one Hayes drives - said to be a white Ford F-150 pickup truck - parked near the store around the time Ms Strube died.



Prosecutors also say fiber 'consistent with a wig' was found inside Hayes’ truck.

A former friend of Hayes, Paul Pinzino, 22, told the Gwinnett County court that he remembers that Hayes had discussed committing the 'perfect murder' back on Valentine's Day of 2008, when the two worked on delivering flowers for Ms Strube's floral business.

According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Mr Pinzino said: 'It was a little strange, yes. But we were just talking. I didn't think anything about it'.

Described 'perfect murder': A state's witness testified that Hayes once told of carrying out a hypothetical crime

Mr Pinzino reportedly said Hayes indicated that, were she to commit a murder, she would act alone, but have a relative use her credit card somewhere to set up an alibi.

Mr Pinzino said Hayes told him she would buy a gun from a day laborer and file it down or melt it after using it, before tossing it in a lake.

He said she would use a vehicle that doesn't stand out.

Prosecutors say the murder weapon in the case has not been found.



Hayes faces charges of felony murder, aggravated assault and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony.

Hayes' defense attorneys claim the state's case is based on 'circumstantial evidence'.

Her attorneys also claim the Snellville Police jumped the gun by zeroing in on their client early in their investigation.