Judge Tari Eitzen is scheduled to hear a motion today from convicted killer Shellye L. Stark's lawyer.

 

Julie Twyford filed a motion May 11 alleging juror misconduct and asking Eitzen to reconsider Stark's 50-year sentence and Eitzen's denials of motions for a new trial and an arrest of judgment.

The state filed a response this week, and the hearing is scheduled for 3 p.m. in Spokane County Superior Court.

It's a busy day for Eitzen.

Earlier today she presided over a deposition hearing for Samuel Thomas IV, 22, a witness in a first-degree murder case against two men, Henry J. Holloway, 26, and Jalil K. Handy, 21. Both are charged with killing Anthony E. Dennis, 43, last October. Police say Holloway killed Dennis, a crack dealer, out of greed. Holloway's trial is scheduled for July; Handy's is set for September.

Handy appeared in court today with his attorney, Chris Bugbee, who questioned Thomas about Hardy's involvement in the killing and whether Hardy had asked for a share of the profits.

Thomas said he hadn't, and described seeing Holloway burn his bloody clothes in a barbecue. It appears as though Bugbee is working to drop of reduce Handy's murder charge, as was done with Thomas.

Thomas was originally charged with first-degree murder but pleaded guilty in January to conspiracy to commit first-degree robbery and was sentenced to 12 months in prison with credit given for 103 days served, records show.

Steve Garvin represented the Spokane County Prosecutor's Office.

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