Tagged: mark blankenship

Jerry Wayne Walker Jr.’s college friend testified in Walker’s trial yesterday in Marshall County. Walker faces charges stemming from the 1998 Murray State University Hester Hall dorm fire that killed student Michael Minger.

The Paducah Sun reports it has filed a petition in Calloway Circuit Court to keep pre-trial hearings open in the arson/manslaughter case against Jerry Wayne Walker, Junior.  Commonwealth's Attorney Mark Blankenship wants to close the hearings to both the media and the public, citing "media attention" to the case as the reason.  Walker is set to appear in his second trial later this year over charges he set the 1998 Murray State dorm fire that killed Michael Minger and injured another student.  Walker's earlier trial in 2001 ended in a hung jury.  Circuit Judge Dennis Foust has not yet ruled

The so called “stand your ground” law cited in the media recently as justification for the killing of Florida teenager Trayvon Martin is under scrutiny now. Kentucky has a similar law. Where essentially someone could use deadly force against a person who is threatening their life. To help shed more light on this law in Kentucky Chad Lampe spoke with Commonwealth Attorney Mark Blankenship. He serves Calloway and Marshall Counties.