Four murder trials delayed until later this year

Four murder trials set to begin during the upcoming trial period in Manatee County have been delayed until later this year.

The murder trials for Eugene Matthews, Kelly McPherson, James Michael Hardy and Jamari Lamon Murray-Barnes were all set to begin during the two-week trial period that begins Monday but have since been delayed.

Matthews, 83, is charged with second-degree murder with a firearm in the Jan. 10 fatal shooting of his best-friend’s ex-wife, Rebecca Rawsom. He is also facing two counts of attempted murder for shooting at Rawson’s daughter and brother-in-law. If convicted, Matthews could face up to life in prison.

Last month, defense attorney Richard Reinhart had filed a petition for habeas corpus on Matthews’ behalf, asking the Second District Court of Appeals to order a circuit court judge to set bonds totaling $300,000. His defense attorney in his criminal case, David Rieth, had argued in April during a bond hearing that Matthews should be entitled to bond because he had grounds for a stand-your-ground defense, but it was denied.

Earlier this month, a three-judge panel of the court of appeals denied the petition. Matthews’ case has since been delayed. He is now set to stand trial during the two-week trial period that begins Oct. 2.

McPherson, 24, is charged with second-degree murder in the 2015 fatal shooting of Keyvis McCullough, 30. Witnesses say that at about 1 p.m. on Sept 5, McPherson walked up to McCullough in the 700 block of 12th Avenue West and shot him three times, according to detectives.

McPherson was arrested more than two weeks later after the Bradenton Police Department received a tip that he was at an apartment in the Bradenton Village Apartments complex. The SWAT team was used to coax him out and surrender.

On July 17, McPherson’s case was reassigned to Circuit Judge Hunter Carroll after presiding Circuit Judge Brian Iten recused himself. Iten, a former prosecutor with the State Attorney’s Office of the 12th Judicial Circuit, was appointed to the circuit bench less than two years ago.

No new trial date has been set and McPherson has not yet gone before the new presiding judge in his case. He’s next scheduled to appear in court at 8:30 a.m. Aug. 2.

Hardy, 23, is charged with principal to second-degree murder in the 2016 fatal shooting of Charles Lehnert, 31, during a drug deal gone bad. His co-defendant, Daniel Lee Mann, 23, admitted during his arrest to shooting Lehnert while Hardy held him down, according to detectives.

Last week, Mann was indicted on charges of first-degree murder with a firearm and possession of a firearm by a convicted weapon after turning down a plea deal. Since Mann is alleged to have made admissions that also implicate Hardy, the two men will be tried separately.

Hardy, 23, is scheduled to stand trial during the two-week trial period that begins Oct. 2.

Murray-Barnes, 19, is charged with second-degree murder with a firearm in the 2015 fatal shooting of 16-year-old Justin Fabien.

Early on Aug. 10, 2015, police were called to the 1200 block of 21st Street East in Bradenton to reports of gunfire found. When they arrived, officers found Fabien lying on the sidewalk with gunshot wounds to his upper body.

Police have previously said that an earlier robbery may have been the motive for the shooting.

Defense attorney Brett McIntosh began to defend the teen, who is being charged as an adult, in November after he previous defense attorney, Terra Carroll, had been found incompetent to stand trial on criminal charges she was facing in the Florida Panhandle and ordered to a mental institution.

McIntosh had requested more time to prepare for trial after months of having to request police reports in the case and for interviews and depositions to be transcribed. Assistant State Attorney Suzanne O’Donnell, who also had not been on the case since its onset, did not object.

Murray-Barnes is scheduled to stand trial during the two-week trial period that begins Oct. 2.

This story was originally published July 27, 2017 at 6:26 PM with the headline "Four murder trials delayed until later this year."