Evidence was the main focus of discussion during court proceedings held Thursday afternoon in the Pembroke triple murder case against Christian “Kit” Martin.
Martin is represented by defense attorney Tom Griffiths, who informed the court that he has received the majority of the evidence he requested from the Attorney General’s office, except for a chunk of raw cell phone data from Tennessee. Assistant Attorney General Alexander Garcia says his office simply doesn’t have that data, but they’ve provided what they do have and the defense’s expert should be able to acquire what they don’t.
Judge John Atkins told Griffiths to confer with his expert, and he will act accordingly if they are unable to get the data he is requesting on their own.
Griffiths did inform the court he intends to file a motion to dismiss the indictment against his client, based off what evidence they feel was presented in error to the grand jury.
He requested a hearing to go over that evidence with the court, with Judge Atkins setting a pretrial hearing for February 25, telling Griffiths to file the proper motion by February 5.
Judge Atkins has denied several motions to dismiss in this case in the past, but says he is prepared to review the motions and move forward with a hearing if needed. 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.” He could face the death penalty, if convicted.
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.