Trial that was set to begin Monday for the man accused of murdering Lexus Bell in Russellville in 2016 had to be postponed after the defense counsel said it was not prepared to proceed.
Attorneys from the Capital Branch of the Department of Public Advocacy represented 25-year old Demetrius Roberson of Russellville and requested a continuance of the trial last week. They had their motion denied by Logan Circuit Judge Tyler Gill, according to Commonwealth’s Attorney Neil Kerr, who says those attorneys reiterated their need to postpone the trial again Monday morning.
Kerr says he told the judge he believed a potential conviction would be overturned on appeal due to the attorneys asserting on the record they were not prepared. Ultimately, Judge Gill canceled the trial and removed the attorneys from the capital branch of the DPA from the case. He appointed a local attorney from the trial branch of the Department for Public Advocacy.
The Commonwealth is no longer pursuing the death penalty in the case after receiving new information from co-defendant Tayveonn Bibb when he entered into a plea agreement.
Kerr says in an email that the Commonwealth was ready for trial, but he agreed with the judge’s decision based on the likelihood a guilty verdict would have been overturned.
He says, “I am absolutely confident that we will now be able to proceed to trial in a timely manner, and more importantly, that we will get justice for Lexus Bell that will not be undone by an appeal.”