After Commonwealth’s Attorney Stephanie Bolen announced the need for a special prosecutor to handle the case against a Hopkinsville man charged in connection with the death of Stanley Bussell, the court continued the matter until next month.
After an investigation by the Kentucky State Police, Bobby Spikes, who had dual addresses in both Hopkinsville and Princeton, was charged with murder after an investigation began when the body of 34-year-old Candice Marcel was found in a car on Cerulean Road in December 2021 by a Trigg County Sheriff’s deputy. The investigation led state police to Marcel’s Hopkinsville home where they found the body of Bussell. The murder charge is in connection to the death of Bussell in Christian County.
State police reported that Marcel lured Bussell to her Hopkinsville residence, where her boyfriend Spikes, who was known to frequent the residence, allegedly shot Bussell in the head.
During a pretrial conference Wednesday morning, Spikes appeared along with his public defender, Doug Moore, and Bolen appeared before Judge John Atkins. After Bolen informed Judge Atkins that a special prosecutor should be assigned soon, Spikes informed Judge Atkins that he had filed a complaint against Moore and he wants a change of venue.
click to download audioJudge Atkins acknowledged their efforts to schedule a trial for Spikes’ case and, after the defendant requested a change of venue, scheduled another pretrial conference for April.
click to download audioAs far as Spikes’ request to replace Mr. Moore and filing a complaint with his supervisor, Atkins said he was going to let that run its administrative course and see what happens.
click to download audioSpikes asked Judge Atkins if he would allow someone to stand in for Moore, which Judge Atkins refused.
click to download audioSpikes added that his speedy public trial request is still in tack, with Judge Atkins saying his motion is of record but this is a complicated case.
click to download audioSpikes continued to argue that he doesn’t want Moore handling his case.
click to download audioSpikes also asked that Moore turn over the discovery in his case to his sister, which was granted.
Moore also noted during the hearing that Spikes has not been indicted in Trigg County and doesn’t know why.
