Judge Takes Hall Killer's Request For Bail Under Advisement

Jackson Circuit Court Judge Bill Vance did not reject the request for bail for one of the men accused of the hate crime killing of Aaron Hill as out of hand at a hearing yesterday. Instead, Judge Vance said he will take the request under advisement. The Seymour Tribune reports:

An 18-year-old man accused of beating a Crothersville man to death in April remains in custody today following a request for bail.

Jackson Circuit Court Judge Bill Vance took Coleman M. King’s request for a bond under advisement following a hearing Monday morning.

King is set to stand trial at 8:30 a.m. June 21 in circuit court for the beating death of Aaron C. “Shorty” Hall, 35, on the night of April 12 or in the early morning hours of April 13.

The two men had been drinking beer and whiskey at the home of Garrett L. Gray, 19, at 6420 S. 1025E, Crothersville, according to court documents. Both King and Gray face murder and voluntary manslaughter charges.

Another man, James Robert Hendricks, 21, Paris Crossing, is accused of helping dump Hall’s body in a ditch south of Crothersville and faces a charge of assisting a criminal. Gray faces a jury trial at 8:30 a.m. Oct. 16 in circuit court and is being held without bond, and Hendricks remains in jail as well in lieu of $25,000 bond. King is being represented by Scott County attorney Joe Payne.

I'm really having trouble with this one. King is scheduled for trial on June 21, a little more than two weeks away. He's accused of murder and voluntary manslaughter. He implicates himself in the killing according to the police affidavit. Why would you ask to bail out when your speedy trial request allows your case to be tried within 60 days of your arrest and only 17 days remain before your trial? And upon what possible basis could bail be granted to King under these circumstances?