Another trial date has been scheduled after a mistrial was declared last month in the McHenry Street murder case involving a Hopkinsville man.
Christian County Circuit Judge Andrew Self declared the mistrial in the case of Robert Torian III after a 12-member jury failed to reach a unanimous decision during his trial in late September. Torian was standing trial in the 2019 fatal shooting of 25-year old Terrill Moore following a verbal argument when they were passengers in a vehicle on McHenry Street.
During a pretrial conference Wednesday, Torian’s defense attorney, Jason Byrd said his client didn’t want to take a plea offer at this time and asked Judge Self to set another trial date.
click to download audioSpecial Prosecutor Dennis Foust had no objection to setting another trial date. Judge Self then set a jury trial for February 12, 2024, at 8:30 a.m. and another pretrial conference for January 24, 2024, at 1:00 p.m.
Due to the time Torian has been incarcerated, Byrd also asked Judge Self for a bond reduction, which was denied.
click to download audioWith more than four years passed since the incident, Torian was 19 years old when he was reportedly sitting behind Moore, got out of the vehicle, opened the front passenger door, and shot Moore in the head. An eyewitness positively identified Torian as the shooter, and he was originally held in Christian County Jail under a $500,000 bond.
Several situations have caused delays in the timeline, including a global pandemic, a change of Commonwealth’s Attorney, Foust’s appointment to the case, and more.
