Originally slated to begin October 23, the murder trial for Cortez Hairston Jr. was moved to March 18, 2024, following an order from Judge John Atkins during Wednesday morning’s Christian County Court Circuit docket.
The decision comes following many factors.
Charged with the October 2021 murder of 25-year-old Adrian Acree at the intersection of Jones and Sharpe streets, he turned himself in to police on April 14, 2022, following the April 5, 2022, arrest of two allegedly complicit co-defendants in Jaila Sherrod and Dekorian Daniel.
Ted Shouse and related associates are no longer defending Hairston Jr., and Mike Goodwin entered his first appearance to the court Wednesday with three motions:
One requiring the Commonwealth provide all statements between Hairston Jr. and Sherrod, of which there are at least four;
One asking for dismissal of the case, because there is belief Sherrod managed an undisclosed agreement with the Commonwealth for continued cooperation, which was denied by Atkins;
And one in suit, asking for more time to prepare for trial.
Atkins said he “wasn’t going to tolerate any surprise tactics” out of special prosecutor Zac Greenwell, who in kind rebuked there would be nothing to worry about.
Atkins and Greenwell further agreed that former Commonwealth’s Attorney Rick Boling should provide further clarity on any previous discussions with Sherrod during the investigation and initial prosecution.
Greenwell and Goodwin also agreed that it would be mutually beneficial for the trial to be moved to a more successful time, in order for all parties to be best prepared. Goodwin said he was booked all through January and February of next year.
Initial police reports indicate law enforcement were contacted around 1 AM October 26, 2021, about a man assaulted and a body in the roadway. Sherrod and Daniel were charged with complicity to murder, as potential “planners” of Acree’s death.
