After more than three years, no trial date on horizon in Rector case
By JIM SECKLER
The Mohave Valley Daily News
KINGMAN — The defense attorneys for a Bullhead City man potentially facing the death penalty are wading through mountains of evidence and other discovery.
Justin James Rector, 29, is charged with first-degree murder, kidnapping, child abuse and abandonment of a dead body for the Sept. 2, 2014, death of Isabella Grogan-Cannella. He is charged with murdering the 8-year-old girl and leaving her body in a shallow grave near her Bullhead City home.
He is being held in county jail without bond.
After three months on the job, Rector’s attorney, Quinn Jolly, said Friday that he is making progress in the case, going through all the evidence and other documents. Getting documents from the previous attorney has proven to be difficult, he said.
Deputy Mohave County Greg McPhillips also told the judge that the case is moving forward with the new attorneys on board and will soon give the defense a compact disc with interviews that have been conducted.
Superior Court Judge Lee Jantzen suggested that in order to move the case along, Quinn file a motion if needed so he could order the previous defense attorney, Gerald Gavin, to disclose any documents or evidence in the case. Gavin had the case for more than two years. The judge also set Rector’s next hearing for Jan. 19.
Jantzen previously granted an extension of time for Rector’s co-counsel, Julia Cassels, to file a motion to remand Rector’s 2017 aggravated assault case back to the grand jury. Cassels, who represents the defendant in that case, has until Jan. 24 to file that motion.
Jolly was assigned to Rector’s death penalty murder case in September. Cassels was assigned to the case in July 2016. Two death penalty-qualified attorneys are required in a capital murder case. Rector’s trial date has not been set.
http://www.mohavedailynews.com/news/...00b18d687.html
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