FAIRMONT —
The Marion County Prosecuting Attorney and counsel for a Marion County woman charged with the first-degree murder of her father in December 2011 presented pretrial motions Friday afternoon before Marion Circuit Court Judge Michael Aloi.
Kristyn Palmer of Baxter also faces 20 counts of forging and uttering 10 checks on a bank account belonging to her late father, Everett Wilson, for more than a month after his death.
Holly Turkett and Christina Mulligan, along with Marion County Prosecuting Attorney Patrick R. Wilson, appeared in court.
Aloi denied what he called “the most significant” motion presented by the defense — to sever the murder and forging/uttering charges.
He also denied defense’s request for bond reduction and, with less than two weeks before trial and one defense attorney on the case for only three weeks, advised Palmer’s counsel they could reschedule the trial to a later date in this term of circuit court, to the end of September, or even past that.
He advised them to discuss this with Palmer and will meet with counsel Monday about the matter.
Defense requested a copy of the June grand jury transcript, which was granted. The prosecution was also ordered to provide defense with several pieces of evidence, such as state police ballistic reports, by noon Monday.
A continuation of the pretrial motions is set for Thursday, July 12.
Palmer’s husband, Michael Palmer, also a faces first-degree murder charge from the same incident. A motion to continue his trial is also scheduled for Thursday at the same time.
Read the complete story in tomorrow’s Times West Virginian, available at newsstands or through home delivery by calling 304-367-2525 or 304-367-2527.


