WCC shooter due in court
By John Joyce
Published in News on April 29, 2015 1:46 PM
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Kenneth Stancil III
Defense attorney Walter Webster said Monday it is unlikely he will be available to appear in Wayne County District Court later today to represent accused Wayne Community College shooter Kenneth M. Stancil III.
Webster is currently trying a rape case that could potentially last through the end of the week.
Stancil is charged with the April 13 shooting death of Ron Lane, 44, on the campus of the community college, which sent the school into lockdown and paralyzed a portion of the city for several hours.
Webster assisted fellow defense attorney Worth Haithcock II in representing Stancil at his first appearance, but was later appointed to the case by Senior Resident Superior Court Judge Arnold O. Jones. His in-court debut as Stancil's appointed counsel, however -- scheduled for the afternoon session of Wayne County District Court -- is contingent upon Webster's rape trial.
"At this point, I just have no way of knowing what will happen," Webster said. He said he doubted the state or the court would opt to proceed without affording Stancil the constitutional right of having his attorney present.
Officials in the Office of the Wayne County Clerk of Courts said if the rape trial carries over, Stancil's hearing will be rescheduled for a later date.
As of this morning, the trial shows no sign of wrapping up today, a court official said.
Webster's office has already filed several pretrial motions, including a request that the race of each potential juror be recorded and a motion to compel the state to disclose the theory upon which conviction of first-degree murder is being sought.
Should Stancil be convicted, he could potentially face the death penalty.
Other motions entered by Webster's office seek a recordation of all proceedings and that any audio or visual recordings produced be disclosed to the defendant.
A determination will be made later today whether to continue the appearance.