A motion concerning evidence is under advisement as trial is fast approaching in the Pembroke triple-murder case of Christian “Kit” Martin.
A lengthy evidentiary hearing was held virtually Friday afternoon, with the main subject up for debate being a shell casing that was found on the property of Calvin Phillips and Pamela Phillips after the homicides had occurred. Family had been cleaning the home when the shell casing of a bullet was reportedly found underneath some wood on a back porch—law enforcement took the casing into evidence.
A motion to keep the bullet from being used as evidence during trial was filed by defense attorney Tom Griffiths. One witness in the discovery of the casing was Matthew Phillips, the son of Calvin and Pamela Phillips, and he testified during the hearing and following questions by Griffiths, says he’ll be looking for anything that could be considered evidence for the rest of his life, or until the killer is brought to justice.
Christian County Sheriff’s Department Detective Justin Meacham was the deputy who took the casing into evidence, and says he did not know when or how the casing ended up on the porch of the home.
A safe belonging to Martin that was seized will be allowed to be used as evidence during trial, but Christian Circuit Judge John Atkins said he would need more time to consider the testimonies concerning the shell casing.
Martin is set to begin trial on June 1, so the judge said he will make his ruling promptly. The judge said he would also like to see case rulings from both the defense and the Attorney General’s Office concerning allowing polygraphs Matthew Phillips and Diana Phillips took concerning the discovery of the casing, as polygraphs are typically inadmissible during trials.
Martin is charged with three counts of murder, arson, attempted arson, first-degree burglary and three counts of tampering with physical evidence in connection with the November, 2015 deaths of Calvin Phillips, Pamela Phillips and Edward Dansereau. Each count of the indictment alleges Martin acted “alone or in complicity with others or another.”