In the 2006 cold-case death of 84-year-old Christian County man Roscoe Mayes, defenders Doug Moore and Brandi Jones were supposed to hold an evidentiary hearing for their respective clients, Lashanda Person Bell and Annastaja Hathaway, Tuesday morning in Christian County Circuit Court.
Both attorneys are still pushing for murder indictments to be dismissed, and are seeking opportunity to prove falsities were told to the Christian County Grand Jury.
However, Self recognized not everyone could convene for Tuesday’s hearing — including some key testimony.
Self said detectives from the case should also have opportunity to review previously submitted testimony.
Moore said he was confident in his motion, and further noted he wanted to file a motion for Person’s removal of the ankle monitor.
In addressing both Moore, Jones and their clients, Self walked through the efforts of a grand jury — and what it takes for indictments to be returned.
Self told Jones specifically that he’s been reviewing the “sin of commission” and it’s possibility, and as such, it would be possible for the defense to subpoena former Commonwealth’s Attorney Rick Boling.
Jones said Boling needed to be present.
Boling has already volunteered testimony that supports a robbery charge and alleged motive, but more than $7,200 of cash was left inside Mayes’ vehicle — found on Greenville Road back in 2006.
Self set the next hearing for 9 AM August 15, and said he’d let parties offer information before making a decision.
Person was arrested in Union County in May 2022, and Hathaway was taken into custody in Houston, Texas in June 2022 — following new connections to the cold case.
A third person of interest, Regina Vause, was arrested, but saw her murder charge dropped in July 2022. Vause’s case, though, was dismissed without prejudice, meaning if the Commonwealth were to discover any new evidence that implicates Vause in connection with the crime, she could be re-indicted without double jeopardy.
