Davis, 45, was indicted by a Butler County grand jury on Sept. 12 for aggravated murder with additional specifications of a repeat violent offender and use of a gun in the crime. Also included in the indictment is having weapons under disability, kidnapping and lesser included charges of murder, kidnapping, murder, attempted murder.
Prosecutors allege Davis is complicit in the slaying of Slone, whose remains were found July 1 in a trash can on Centennial Street by women searching for her. She had been missing since June.
Credit: Nick Graham
Credit: Nick Graham
Heile said she would not grant the defense motion to dismiss charges against Davis stating “trial is for the purpose of determining if the state of Ohio has sufficient evidence to find you guilty.”
The judge also ruled against a defense motion to reduce bond so that Davis an assist with preparation of his defense. Heile said if there are any issues with defense attorney Brad Kraemer having access in the jail to his client to contact the court or the prosecutor’s office.
Credit: Nick Graham
Credit: Nick Graham
Davis has been housed in the Butler County Jail in lieu of $1 million bond.
He did not waive his speedy trial rights and the trial was scheduled to begin in November. But Davis’ attorney filed a motion for continuance, stating more time was needed to “adequately prepare and prep.”
Retire Judge Noah Powers II granted that motion and moved the trial was rescheduled for Feb 3.
Davis said Tuesday the trial continuation was done without his consent. Heile told him it was not required.
“This man (co-defendant) is trying to save his own self over something I didn’t do … that’s unjust,” Davis said before being escorted from the courtroom. “If I was white, I would have been out of here.”
Perry Hart, 58, was arrested on Aug. 20 on an aggravated murder charge in connection with Slone’s death and indicted by a grand jury a week later for aggravated murder with a gun specification and a repeat violent offender specification; kidnapping; murder; and two counts of having weapons under disability.
Bond for Hart was set at $1.5 million by Butler County Common Pleas Judge Michael Oster Jr. He is scheduled to be back in court Feb. 19 for a pre-trial hearing. A trial date has not been set for Hart.
Prosecutors say both men shot Slone.
Slone, 35, who had been reported missing in June, was identified by the Butler County Coroner’s Office through DNA testing two days after Hart’s arrest.
According to court documents obtained by the Journal News, Middletown police say “Brandon Lee Davis on or about (June 15) shot her (Slone) and then ordered another subject identified as Perry (Hart) to finish her off.”
Police say Davis supplied the firearm to Hart and he used it to shoot Slone in the head a second time, according to court documents.
Gmoser told the Journal-News they believe Hart moved Slone while she was still alive.
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