LAWRENCE CO.—A motion hearing this afternoon on a change of venue for Helen Marie Westall has an outcome.
Westall, reportedly smiling as the elevator door opened, ducked this photo op
Public defender Brad Vaughn convinced the judge in the case, Robert Hopkins, to grant the venue change for Westall, who has been charged with two counts of Solicitation to Commit Murder for Hire in the murder of her elderly uncle, Bob Westall.
Westall’s co-defendant in the case, Tyler McQueen, was found guilty in a jury trial that took two weeks back in April and May. McQueen’s trial was covered intensely here at Disclosure, primarily because information may come out in Westall’s trial that proves McQueen had less culpability in the case than the jury was lead to believe earlier this year.
Westall’s attorney, Brad Vaughn, cited widespread media coverage of implications made during McQueen’s trial that could prove damaging to his client’s case. Allusion’s to Westall’s involvement in her uncle’s murder during McQueen’s trial were widely objected to by the prosecution and subsequently sustained by Hopkins.
Vaughn presented the idea that the prosecution, lead by Special Prosecutor Mike Vujovich, wanted the opportunity to select a jury from the ‘poisoned pool’ of potential candidates in Lawrence County; candidates who have been made privy to knowledge of those implications. Vujovich responded by insisting that there is no way to determine just how contaminated the ‘pool’ might be until jury selection has begun.
“Two trials in the same county presents an extraordinary situation, especially in a county this size. Things could get ugly quickly; both economically for the county if we began jury selection only to discover that a change of venue was required, and also in the interest of a fair trial for the defendant,” Hopkins stated before delivering his ruling.
Eventually, Hopkins ruled in favor of the change of venue request.
Nobody in the courtroom seemed to be able to venture a guess as to just how far outside Lawrence County the trial would eventually have to take place. A status hearing is scheduled to take place on Friday, August 26th at 1pm. In the meantime Judge Hopkins expects to make contact with the Cheif Judge, Stephen G. Sawyer, to determine what county the trial will finally take place in.
Keep checking back as details continue to develop.