Judge combines rape, murder charges in Harrison slaying
CYNTHIANA — A Harrison Circuit judge granted a motion on Tuesday to combine the charges against a man accused of sexually assaulting and murdering his girlfriend.
Bass Webb, 31, will now be eligible for the death penalty in the Harrison County case. On Dec. 14, a grand jury indicted Webb on a first-degree rape charge. Webb has been indicted on a murder charge in the death of Bryia Runiewicz, 32.
Runiewicz was found dead in her home in Cynthiana on July 31, 2009.
Harrison County Commonwealth's Attorney Doug Miller filed the motion for the rape and murder cases to be combined. Defense attorneys argued Tuesday against joining the cases.
Circuit Judge Jay Delaney granted Miller's motion. Delaney also granted a defense motion to postpone the trial.
Webb had been scheduled to go to trial on the murder charge next month. Delaney did not set a new date on Tuesday but said he might set the date at the next pre-trial hearing, March 22.
Read more: http://www.kentucky.com/2011/02/01/1...#ixzz1CjZGxlU6
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Man Charged In Ex-Girlfriend's Murder Can Now Face Death Penalty In Case
A man accused of raping and killing his ex-girlfriend in 2009 may now face the death penalty after the judge in the case agreed to combine the charges Tuesday in court.
Bass Webb, 31, is accused of raping and murdering Bryia Runiewicz, 32, whose body was found in her home in July 2009. The decision by the Harrison Circuit judge Tuesday to combine the charges makes Webb eligible for the death penalty.
In December, a grand jury indicted Webb on a first-degree rape charge in the case. Webb had earlier been indicted on a murder charge in Ruiniewicz's death.
Webb is also accused of killing and then burying ex-girlfriend Sabrina Vaughn about six years ago. Vaughn's body was discovered in a shallow grave in Powell County in 2010. Webb is also accused of trying to run down two Bourbon County deputies.
Webb is now scheduled for a pre-trial hearing on March 22. He was originally set to go to trial in the case in March, but the trial date has been postponed. No word yet on when it will be re-scheduled.
http://www.lex18.com/news/man-charge...enalty-in-case
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