The Kentucky Court of Appeals will not review a decision by Christian Circuit Judge John Atkins that denied a bond reduction request from Pembroke triple-murder suspect Christian “Kit” Martin.
Martin’s attorneys asked for his $3 million bond to be reduced to 10 percent of $1 million during a virtual hearing April 16.
The defense presented witnesses willing to house and help Martin get to his court appearances, while the prosecution argued that Martin as a skilled pilot could flee the area to anywhere in the world.
Judge Atkins wrote in his May 7 ruling that he finds difficulty in predicting Martin’s reasonably anticipated behavior, if released. He also cited Martin’s history of violence, and the extremely grave nature of his charges.
Martin’s lawyers appealed Judge Atkins’ order to the Kentucky Court of Appeals 13 days later, but earlier this month that court ultimately denied the motion for review of the lower court’s decision.
Martin is charged with three counts of murder, arson, attempted arson, first-degree burglary and three counts of tampering with physical evidence. Each count of the indictment alleges Martin acted “alone or in complicity with others or another.”
On November 18, 2015, Calvin Phillips was found shot to death in his home located on South Main Street in Pembroke. The bodies of Pamela Phillips and their neighbor, Edward Dansereau were found a few miles away in a corn field near Rosetown Road in a burned up car owned by Mrs. Phillips. Martin could face the death penalty, if convicted.