Published: September 25, 2008 08:35 pm      

Motions heard in Pinnacle Rock murder case

PRINCETON — Motions regarding evidence and the venue of the trial for a Mercer County man facing a charge of first degree murder in the 2007 death of a Pipestem resident were heard Thursday in Mercer County Circuit Court.

Benny Ray Roberts Sr., 53, of Brushfork appeared before Judge William Sadler for pretrial motions. Roberts was arrested Jan. 18 and charged with first-degree murder in the 2007 death of 55-year-old Losey Lee Bennett.

Bennett, a retired supervisor of maintenance at Pipestem State Park, was found suffering from a severe head trauma Sept. 20, 2007 at Pinnacle Rock State Park near Bramwell. He was working part-time as a contractor to install a new electrical source at the park.

During Thursday’s hearing, defense attorneys Michael Cooke and Jason Grubb moved to change the venue of Roberts’s trial and made a suppression motion. Sadler took the motions under advisement, according to information at the Mercer County Circuit Clerk’s Office.

Sadler also told defense attorneys and Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Scott Ash to review autopsy photographs and determine which ones they want to present during the trial. If no decision is reached, Sadler will make a ruling before the trial.

Roberts, who is currently on home confinement, is scheduled to go on trial Oct. 7.

— Contact Greg Jordan at gjordan@bdtonline.com