Charged in the October 21, 2021, Trigg County murder of his aunt, Mary Dullenty, 48-year-old Harold “Butch” Jett appeared in 56th Judicial Circuit Court Friday — two steps closer to a possible trial date.
With no motions pending in the case, Commonwealth’s Attorney Carrie-Ovey Wiggins said she’d soon be providing Jett’s defense attorney, Michael Bufkin, some preliminary reports — with labs underway on evidence.
Ovey-Wiggins said her office was also ready to comply with both Bufkin’s request, and the court’s order from presiding Circuit Judge C.A. “Woody” Woodall III, to grant specific access of the crime scene to the defense.
In what could be a lengthy and difficult capital case, Bufkin tendered an ex parte motion with Woodall, likely to discuss how to fill out the rest of his defense team. While some things continue to be discussed for motion practice, Bufkin added he wanted to be surer after reviewing all of the case’s evidence at once.
Bufkin also requested he and public defender Michael Pfeil have access to a transcriptionist, because of the amount of back material already available.
Bufkin said it still is his wish to review the crime scene and all of its parts, something Woodall needed to be arranged between him and the Commonwealth.
Woodall set a deadline for all further motions to be filed by June 24, with the next pre-trial conference arranged for 9:30 AM, July 15.
At the onset of Friday, Bufkin was chastised by Woodall for being more than 50 minutes late, and was warned of contempt if tardiness happened again.
Jett, an Illinoisan, was indicted for murder by the December session of Trigg County’s grand jury — and along with it charged with first-degree fleeing from police, first-degree burglary, speeding 26 miles per hour or over and first-degree strangulation.
He’s currently lodged in Christian County Jail, with a bond of $1 million.
