The bond will be reduced for Christopher Swykert, the man charged with murder in relation to a single-vehicle crash that killed a passenger in his vehicle, following a bond hearing Friday in Trigg Circuit Court.
Swykert appeared virtually along with defense attorney Bill Deatherage and testified, along with his father, that he is willing to abide by all conditions of release and his family could provide a place for him to live and be supervised. Deatherage says his client did not set out the day of the fatal crash with the intent to kill someone, calling the incident a tragic accident.
Commonwealth’s Attorney Carrie Ovey-Wiggins says she wants Swykert to post at least some form of cash bond, and for him to not be released until his father is able to relocate from Texas to Kentucky to supervise him. Ovey-Wiggins also conveyed that she doesn’t believe the family of the victim is seeking serious penalties in this case.
Circuit Judge C.A. Woody Woodall granted a bond reduction—not yet setting a cash bond amount—but saying it would be something feasible that would allow Swykert to be released.
Swykert is charged with murder and aggravated DUI. Swykert was allegedly operating a vehicle near the 1.5 mile marker of the Trace in LBL in June of Trigg County when he failed to negotiate a curve. The car went off the road, struck a tree and overturned onto its top.
A passenger, 19-year old Daniel Kincaid of Houston, Texas, was pronounced dead at the scene by the Trigg County Coroner’s Office.