Judge says machete attack confession stands

PORT HURON (AP) -- A judge says a man accused of killing two people with a machete made a voluntary confession to Port Huron police and it can be used at his Feb. 23 trial. St. Clair County Circuit Judge James Adair ruled last Friday in the case of 35-year-old Jorge Diaz Jr. of Lexington. The Port Huron Times Herald reports Diaz testified he was on a crack cocaine binge in the three days before the Aug. 24 attack and, after his arrest, experienced a "whirlwind" of emotions. Police say 50-year-old Laura Arnold and 56-year-old Johnnie Lee Grafton of Port Huron died in the attack. Diaz is charged with two counts each of open murder and assault with intent to murder and single counts of arson; and assault with intent to commit robbery while armed. Published: Tue, Feb 15, 2011