11-24-2015, 04:08 PM
New Legal Developments
CHARGE ENHANCEMENT:
The Marion County Prosecutor's Office has requested an enhancement on the murder charge filed against a suspect in the Amanda Blackburn killing because Blackburn was pregnant.
If Larry Taylor is convicted of Blackburn's murder, the enhancement could add an additional six to 20 years behind bars. Blackburn was 12 weeks pregnant when she died.
The enhancement would come into play should Taylor be convicted of or plead guilty to murder, according to prosecutor's office spokeswoman Peg McLeish. At that point, she said, the state would have to make its case that the killing caused the termination of Blackburn's pregnancy.
TODAY'S HEARING / PLEAS:
![[Image: 635839536722963334-BlackburnMurderSuspectsCourt-1.jpeg]](http://www.gannett-cdn.com/-mm-/a93188d4a25d5ab350c51636bd5ccf53d1cebbc8/c=125-0-1702-2103&r=183&c=0-0-180-240/local/-/media/2015/11/24/Indianapolis/Indianapolis/635839536722963334-BlackburnMurderSuspectsCourt-1.jpeg)
The two men facing murder charges in Amanda Blackburn's slaying appeared at a court hearing today, where a judge entered not guilty pleas for them.
During the 20-minute hearing, public defenders were assigned to Taylor and Watson, who gave "yes" and "no" answers to the judge's perfunctory questions.
MOVING FORWARD:
Tuesday's court appearance will also likely be the last until Jan. 8, when the two are scheduled for a pre-trial conference hearing. In the meantime, local authorities will be tasked with processing additional evidence taken from the crime scenes — something officials expect will take time to resolve.
Marion County Deputy Prosecutor Denise Robinson said, "It's a process that can take weeks and into months in this case. So the crime lab has quite a bit of work to do on the case."
Robinson said Taylor's case could be under consideration for the death penalty, though she added that process has yet to be started.
Uncertainty also swirls around the fate of Diano Gordon, a third man police have accused of being involved in the string of burglaries that led to Blackburn's death. Gordon, who is named in a probable cause affidavit, has not been charged. Robinson said prosecutors are waiting for test results and other information before determining what charges may be filed against him.
Full Story: http://www.indystar.com/story/news/crime.../76246780/
CHARGE ENHANCEMENT:
The Marion County Prosecutor's Office has requested an enhancement on the murder charge filed against a suspect in the Amanda Blackburn killing because Blackburn was pregnant.
If Larry Taylor is convicted of Blackburn's murder, the enhancement could add an additional six to 20 years behind bars. Blackburn was 12 weeks pregnant when she died.
The enhancement would come into play should Taylor be convicted of or plead guilty to murder, according to prosecutor's office spokeswoman Peg McLeish. At that point, she said, the state would have to make its case that the killing caused the termination of Blackburn's pregnancy.
TODAY'S HEARING / PLEAS:
The two men facing murder charges in Amanda Blackburn's slaying appeared at a court hearing today, where a judge entered not guilty pleas for them.
During the 20-minute hearing, public defenders were assigned to Taylor and Watson, who gave "yes" and "no" answers to the judge's perfunctory questions.
MOVING FORWARD:
Tuesday's court appearance will also likely be the last until Jan. 8, when the two are scheduled for a pre-trial conference hearing. In the meantime, local authorities will be tasked with processing additional evidence taken from the crime scenes — something officials expect will take time to resolve.
Marion County Deputy Prosecutor Denise Robinson said, "It's a process that can take weeks and into months in this case. So the crime lab has quite a bit of work to do on the case."
Robinson said Taylor's case could be under consideration for the death penalty, though she added that process has yet to be started.
Uncertainty also swirls around the fate of Diano Gordon, a third man police have accused of being involved in the string of burglaries that led to Blackburn's death. Gordon, who is named in a probable cause affidavit, has not been charged. Robinson said prosecutors are waiting for test results and other information before determining what charges may be filed against him.
Full Story: http://www.indystar.com/story/news/crime.../76246780/