MANSFIELD, La. (AP) - State District Judge Robert Burgess made it clear that he plans to move forward as soon as possible with the capital murder trial of Brian Horn so a delay until Monday for a hearing on new evidence is that - a delay, not a continuance.
The Times reports (https://bit.ly/1n13Dyf ) jury selection scheduled to begin Monday in East Baton Rouge Parish won’t happen. But Burgess left open the possibility of it resuming at some point in February or March.
“Clear your calendars and be ready,” he told prosecutors and defense attorneys at least three times during a 30-minute court hearing Wednesday.
The hearing was set to take up a motion for continuance sought by Horn’s lead attorney, Daryl Gold. Gold contended the state’s revelation this week that a fingerprint lifted four years ago from Horn’s Action Taxi cab that was recently positively matched to Horn’s alleged victim, Justin M. Bloxom, 12, of Stonewall, was a game-changer for his defense strategy.
“That’s the only piece of physical evidence that puts Justin Bloxom in the vehicle,” Gold told the court.
Horn, 37, of Keachie, faces the death penalty if convicted of first-degree murder and kidnapping charges. He’s accused of luring Justin away from a friend’s home March 30, 2010, after conversing with him through text messages. Sheriff’s investigators said Horn portrayed himself as a young girl.
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Information from: The Times, https://www.shreveporttimes.com
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