Trial scheduled for North McPherson St. murder suspect

The suspect accused of murdering 31-year old John Michael Kellems at a home on North McPherson Avenue in March refused to leave his jail cell to appear in Christian Circuit Court Wednesday morning, but a trial date was still scheduled in his absence.

The grand jury indictment for murder alleges 31-year old Lance Bowden of Hopkinsville used a knife to cut Kellems’ throat in the bedroom of a home on North McPherson.

Public defender Eric Bearden says he will most likely be requesting a competency hearing for Bowden after he was recently evaluated at the Kentucky Correctional Psychiatric Complex, but that scheduling a trial would be prudent in the meantime.

Trial was tentatively scheduled for February 20.