Next month’s trial date of three men charged with a shooting outside the Princess Theater in November 2021 that killed one person and injured two others appears to be the only thing clear at this point.
21-year-old Aniya Collins was killed in the shooting, while a second person — G’Teria Acree — was shot in the leg.
Hopkinsville Police said Jaquavian Spencer and Zamarius Humphries got into an altercation and began shooting at each other. Deovion Day also began shooting with police saying that’s when the women were caught in the crossfire.
Day is charged with murder, first-degree assault, and possession of a handgun by a convicted felon. Spencer is charged with first-degree assault and convicted felon in possession of a handgun. Humphries is charged with complicity to first-degree assault and convicted felon in possession of a firearm.
During a Wednesday session of Christian County Circuit Court, Sands Chewning, the defense attorney for Spencer and Humphries, requested an evidentiary hearing prior to the start of the June 10 trial for the court to hear several motions, including one by the Commonwealth to have separate trials.
click to download audioLeamy explained why she wanted to have one trial for Spencer and a second for Humphries and Day.
click to download audioChewning told Judge Andrew Self that he would like to see all three defendants have separate trials.
click to download audioDay’s attorney, Daniel Whitley of Lexington, said he would file a response to the motion to sever once he learned the order of the trials if split.
Leamy said she could have the order filed by Monday, giving each side about a week to draft their response. Whitley also requested the week time frame because he is running for state representative in the 77th District and will appear on the Democratic primary ballot for the Lexington area.
Judge Self said motions will be heard on May 28 at 9:00.
