Bond will remain the same for murder suspect Julius Catlett Jr. as Circuit Judge Andrew Self denied a motion for reduction Wednesday in Christian Circuit Court.
He is currently held on a $1 million bond. Catlett appeared with his public defender, Brandi Jones, who argued that since trial was delayed once again, it is unfair for Catlett to sit in jail while he waits for a June trial, and asked for some relief to his bond.
Commonwealth’s Attorney Lynn Pryor argued against a reduction, saying Catlett is a proven flight risk and has a history of criminal conduct, on top of the murder charge.
Judge Self ruled to leave the bond the same, saying that he doesn’t think anyone was pleased with the delay of the trial, but he does consider Catlett a danger to others.
Catlett is accused of shooting Shaun Smith to death at a party on Younglove Street in September 2016. He was located several days later in Evansville, Indiana. Trial was originally set to begin Wednesday, but was delayed again to allow for further testing of evidence at the state crime lab. **