ST. FRANCISVILLE, La. (AP) — The first-degree murder trial of Angola 5 defendant Barry S. Edge will go forward in April as planned, despite the Saturday arrest of one of his defense attorneys.
The Advocate reports (http://bit.ly/Aeh4HW ) retired Orleans Parish Judge Jerome M. Winsberg issued the ruled Tuesday following a meeting with prosecution and defense attorneys and Edge.
West Feliciana Parish sheriff’s deputies arrested lead defense attorney Nelvil Hollingsworth on Saturday afternoon on a complaint by Louisiana State Penitentiary authorities, who alleged Hollingsworth, 62, tried to enter the prison with 5.2 grams of marijuana hidden in the lining of his jacket.
Hollingsworth, who had scheduled a visit at Angola with Edge, was booked on one count of introduction of contraband into a penal institution and released on $10,000 bail.
Winsberg said in open court that “a motion was made and denied” during the conference, but he did not elaborate on the specifics of the motion or which side made it.
The lawyers also declined to discuss the proceedings.
Edge is accused of first-degree murder in the Dec. 28, 1999, slaying of prison security Capt. David C. Knapps, 49, during an escape attempt from Angola’s Camp D.
Prosecutors from Jefferson and Caddo parishes have tried three of Edge’s co-defendants, winning death sentences against Jeffrey Cameron Clark and David Brown. A jury could not agree on the death penalty for Robert G. Carley, who was sentenced to a second life sentence in Angola.
The state Department of Public Safety and Corrections has spent $7.97 million so far for the prosecution and defense of the five indicted inmates, according to figures released Tuesday.
Edge, 51, was scheduled for trial this week, but Hollingsworth and co-counsel Fred Kroenke won nearly a two-month delay after prosecutors recently announced they planned to use testimony by Angola inmate Richard Domingue about an alleged “jailhouse confession” by Edge.
The attorneys requested the additional time to investigate Domingue’s background.
Winsberg said prospective jurors from St. Tammany Parish will fill out a questionnaire on April 19 and the lawyers will begin questioning them on April 23.
The state also plans to try inmate David Mathis. His trial had been set to begin April 23 until Edge was granted the delay.
Twentieth Judicial District Attorney Sam D’Aquilla has the option of reducing the felony count against Hollingsworth to a misdemeanor, such as simple possession of marijuana, but he said he has not made a decision in the case.
D’Aquilla cannot try the murder cases because he briefly represented Edge when D’Aquilla was a public defender in the judicial district.
 
 
 
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