The defense attorney for the 2019 Bethel Street murder suspect told a Christian Circuit Court judge Wednesday that he will be requesting a bond reduction as his client awaits trial.
Shakkory Willis was arrested two years ago in connection to the fatal shooting of 20-year old Corvyan Thomas on Short Bethel Street on January 24, 2019. Willis jailed four days later when he turned himself in to police and was charged with murder, first-degree robbery, and second-degree unlawful transaction with a minor.
During a pretrial conference Wednesday morning, Willis and his defense attorney, Eric Bearden, appeared virtually before Chief Circuit Judge John Atkins. Bearden told the judge he will be requesting a bond reduction, at which time Judge Atkins said the motion will need to be filed by May 7th. The Commonwealth’s Attorney then has seven days to file a response to the bond reduction motion.
Willis was scheduled to be tried by a jury in February 2020, but it was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Judge Atkins rescheduled the jury trial for August 2.
Five co-defendants in the case, James Yates, Lane Carter, Tia Ochs, Madison Wilson and a juvenile, Korey Zivotin, all accepted plea deals in the past year and have been sentenced to time in prison for their roles in the case.
