By Associated Press - Wednesday, January 29, 2014

WELCH, W.Va. (AP) - The trial of a Virginia man charged with killing the mayor of War is underway in McDowell County.

Media outlets report that the trial of 28-year-old Earl Click of Grundy, Va., began Wednesday in McDowell County Circuit Court.

Click is charged with first-degree murder in the death of 72-year-old War Mayor Thomas Hatcher.



City workers found Hatcher’s body in his home on July 17, 2102.

Click’s sister and co-defendant, 32-year-old Rebecca Hatcher, was acquitted of a murder charge in November 2013. Judge Rudolph J. Murensky II declared a mistrial on a conspiracy charge. A retrial is scheduled in February.

Rebecca Hatcher was the mayor’s daughter-in-law.

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