Mercer County Murder Trial Postponed until March - Beckley, Bluefield & Lewisburg News, Weather, Sports

Mercer County Murder Trial Postponed until March

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PRINCETON -

Jury selection in the trial of Marcus McKinley was supposed to begin in Princeton on Tuesday, Nov. 13.

McKinley was brought from Southern Regional Jail on Tuesday morning, but instead of choosing a jury, they discussed the appointment of a new prosecutor.  Apparently Mercer County Prosecuting Attorney Scott Ash actually represented McKinley in 2004.  That caused a conflict of interest. 

Ash contacted the West Virginia Prosecuting Attorney's Institute to appoint a special prosecutor in the case.  That could happen as soon as Tuesday afternoon.  Judge Omar Aboulhosn is hoping that a prosecutor from a neighboring county will be appointed.

McKinley is facing trial for First Degree Murder.  He is accused of killing Ayana Patton at the Opera House Apartments in Bluefield.  Patton's body was discovered inside her apartment back in May.

The trial has been rescheduled for March 19, 2013.  McKinley is being held without bond in the Southern Regional Jail.