A new trial date was set Wednesday in Christian Circuit Court for the two men charged with the 2016 murder of 19-year old De’Andre Palmer in Oak Grove.
Arrest warrants for Leonardo Miller and Deqavion James allege they fatally shot Palmer in July of 2016. Police say they took cash and other items from Palmer’s pockets before putting his body in a closet. Palmer’s body was later moved from the residence and it was discovered a few days later by an Oak Grove police officer near Ghost Bridge on Carter Road.
Commonwealth’s Attorney Rick Boling says negotiations toward a plea deal have fallen through and he desired a trial date for as soon as November after the May date was recently vacated.
McCracken County public defender Robin Erwin is lead counsel for Miller after Margo Merrill left that office for a new job and says he needs time to hire co-counsel and to bring that person up to speed.
David Rye represents James and agreed with Boling in the request for a trial this year.
Ultimately, Circuit Judge John Atkins scheduled the trial for January 20th, 2019.
The death penalty is a possibility in the case, meaning trial could last several weeks.