Bond hearing scheduled for Caroline Ave. murder suspect

MOBILE, Ala. (WALA) - Brandon Estle sat in the back of a Mobile County Sheriff's cruiser Tuesday, October 30.

The same day, the body of his friend Justin Hasty was discovered on his parent's property off Hi Fields Road in west Mobile County, stuffed in a container. This, after Hasty's parents filed a missing persons report on Hasty after he did not show up for work.

Now Estle faces a murder charge. However, those close to him said this isn't something he would do.

FOX10 News received a message from one of Estle's friends who wanted to remain anonymous.

It read: "Brandon Estle is a good, fun loving person with a good heart and he comes from a good family. Along with everyone else that knows him, we are all in complete shock."

Estle spoke to the media during his walk from police headquarters to a waiting Mobile Police Department squad car bound for Mobile Metro Jail.

"All I can say right now is that is was an act of self defense. I would like to say to the Hasty family and his sister Allyson that I am truly sorry. He was my friend. I would do anything to bring him back. We were both at a bad place. It was bad. That is all I can say right now," said Estle.

Defense attorney Jeff Deen said he couldn't comment on the self defense claim.

"Sometimes I wish people would be reticent in talking to the press. Let me do the talking, instead of just blurting things out during a perp walk after you have been handcuffed and set in the back of a police car for hours," said Deen. "You are not in the right state of mind to say anything."

Deen represented Estle in the past for a DUI charge. He said that could have an impact on whether Estle is allowed to make bond. Besides acting as counsel, Deen is also a family friend of the Estles.

He said Brandon's mother is heartbroken.

"His mom and dad are both educators in the Mobile County Public School System. They've been married for almost 30 years. This is like the all-American family. For this to be charged makes no sense. Makes no sense at all," said Deen.

"He is way more than a murder suspect. He is not a bad person," Estle's friend said.

Estle will make his first appearance in court for the murder charge Thursday, November 1 for a bond hearing.