LEXINGTON, Ky. — Warren Scoville, one of the attorneys for murder defendant Steve Nunn, said Thursday that the defense team has no plans to request a change of venue for the trial.
Nunn, a former state lawmaker, is scheduled to go on trial Aug. 1 for murder in the death of his former fiancée, Amanda Ross, who was shot to death outside her Lexington home on Sept. 11, 2009.
During a hearing Thursday morning in Fayette Circuit Court, Scoville said the defense team would not file a motion for a change of venue unless something occurred to warrant such a request. Scoville mentioned publicity as a possible reason for asking for a change of venue.
Nunn, the son of the late Kentucky Gov. Louie Nunn, is scheduled to go on trial Aug. 1 for murder in the death of his former fiancee, Amanda Ross, who was shot to death outside her Lexington home on Sept. 11, 2009. Prosecutors have the option of seeking a death sentence if Nunn is convicted.
On Thursday, Fayette Circuit Judge Pamela Goodwine denied a defense motion that aggravated penalties, including the death penalty, not be considered in the case. Defense attorney Bette Niemi had said in her motion that the Kentucky laws prosecutors are relying on to support the death penalty in the case are vague and unconstitutional.
Goodwine said that the argument was without merit and that Kentucky law is very specific in spelling out "aggravators."
The judge said the defense has until Dec. 31 to give notice that it intends to claim that Nunn has a mental defect or mental illness. If the defense plans to use such an argument, prosecutors have until Jan. 31 to have their own expert evaluate Nunn.
"I want this to progress as smoothly as possible," Goodwine said.
Nunn, who was in a court holdover room during the hearing, waived his right to appear in the courtroom because he was dressed in jail garb and had not shaved, Scoville indicated. Goodwine said she had ordered that Nunn be allowed to wear street clothes during all court appearances.
Nunn, 58, is the son of former Kentucky governor Louie Nunn, who died in 2004.
Read the full story at Kentucky.com