With a September 25 trial date still on the calendar, defense representatives for minors Jonathon Weston and Joshua Cotton have arranged a meeting with Commonwealth’s Attorney Stephanie Bolen — in order to review evidence involved in the March 2022 shooting death of Hopkinsville’s Alijah Watts.
During Wednesday morning’s session of Christian County Circuit Court, respective attorneys Angela Troutman and Brandi Jones confirmed with Judge John Atkins that the Hopkinsville Police Department couldn’t, and wouldn’t, release these materials without all parties present.
As such, the trio will spend Tuesday afternoon, September 5, going over all pertinent items.
Atkins said “everyone’s interests are best served by some kind of joint assessment of the state of the evidence,” especially with other motions and details on the horizon, and that a pre-trial resolution was possible.
A pre-trial conference set next Wednesday morning for Cotton was vacated, and Atkins ruled for all motions to be filed by September 6 before setting another hearing for 10 AM Thursday, September 14.
Jones then asked for Cotton to have another physical appearance in court before the trial, because he’s only been in court the one time since arrests were made.
Cotton, via Zoom and his detention, sent an outburst to Weston — one that stunned the court.
According to Hopkinsville Police, Cotton allegedly shot Watts during an attempted robbery at a Casey’s General Store on Fort Campbell Boulevard. Detectives said 20-year-old Christian McKeel and Weston helped lure Watts to the store, and McKeel is also accused of helping Cotton and Weston leave the area after the shooting.
Cotton and Weston are charged with murder, while McKeel is charged with complicity of murder. Watts was shot in the abdomen, and later died of his injuries.
