Post by sclcookie on May 31, 2006 2:25:17 GMT -5
Whitaker trial set for January
A trial date was set for the Sugar Land man accused of carrying out a plot to kill his mother and brother.
The suspect, Bart Whitaker, appeared in court this week along with co-defendants Chris Brashear and Steve Champaign. All 3 stood before Judge Cliff Vacek of the 400th District Court, wearing green jail uniforms.
Whitaker, 26, was given a mid-January date for his capital murder trial. He is accused of collaborating with Brashear, 23, and Champaign, 23, in the Dec. 10, 2003 murders of Patricia and Kevin Whitaker, Bart Whitaker's mother and brother.
The killing, on a Sunday at approximately 8 p.m., shocked the Sugar Creek neighborhood where the Whitaker family lived. It was reported at the time that a burglar entered the family's home and committed the murder.
Whitaker and his father, Kent Whitaker, were injured but survived the ordeal, and little activity was reported on the case until the fall of 2005, when police issued arrest warrants for the 3 suspects.
A possible inheritance was listed as the motivation for the killings. Brashear is accused of firing the handgun that killed the family, while Champaign allegedly drove Brashear to and from the site.
In January, prosecutors formally announced their intentions to seek the death penalty against Whitaker, a move that was criticized by father Kent Whitaker.
Representing Whitaker was attorney Randolph "Randy" McDonald, who replaces Dan Cogdell as his defense attorney.
McDonald and prosecutor Fred Felcman agreed on pretrial hearing dates of Aug. 21 and Dec. 11. Jury selection for Whitaker's case was set for Jan. 15.
The final 12 jurors will be selected from about 300 individuals, who will be asked to complete a questionnaire prepared by attorneys in the case.
Prosecutors and defense attorneys agreed any trial for Brashear and Champagne would happen following that of Whitaker. Whitaker's trial is expected to take 5 to 6 weeks.
(source: Fort Bend Herald)
A trial date was set for the Sugar Land man accused of carrying out a plot to kill his mother and brother.
The suspect, Bart Whitaker, appeared in court this week along with co-defendants Chris Brashear and Steve Champaign. All 3 stood before Judge Cliff Vacek of the 400th District Court, wearing green jail uniforms.
Whitaker, 26, was given a mid-January date for his capital murder trial. He is accused of collaborating with Brashear, 23, and Champaign, 23, in the Dec. 10, 2003 murders of Patricia and Kevin Whitaker, Bart Whitaker's mother and brother.
The killing, on a Sunday at approximately 8 p.m., shocked the Sugar Creek neighborhood where the Whitaker family lived. It was reported at the time that a burglar entered the family's home and committed the murder.
Whitaker and his father, Kent Whitaker, were injured but survived the ordeal, and little activity was reported on the case until the fall of 2005, when police issued arrest warrants for the 3 suspects.
A possible inheritance was listed as the motivation for the killings. Brashear is accused of firing the handgun that killed the family, while Champaign allegedly drove Brashear to and from the site.
In January, prosecutors formally announced their intentions to seek the death penalty against Whitaker, a move that was criticized by father Kent Whitaker.
Representing Whitaker was attorney Randolph "Randy" McDonald, who replaces Dan Cogdell as his defense attorney.
McDonald and prosecutor Fred Felcman agreed on pretrial hearing dates of Aug. 21 and Dec. 11. Jury selection for Whitaker's case was set for Jan. 15.
The final 12 jurors will be selected from about 300 individuals, who will be asked to complete a questionnaire prepared by attorneys in the case.
Prosecutors and defense attorneys agreed any trial for Brashear and Champagne would happen following that of Whitaker. Whitaker's trial is expected to take 5 to 6 weeks.
(source: Fort Bend Herald)