The first degree murder case against former Letcher County Sheriff Mickey Stines is going forward to a grand jury.
On Tuesday a Morgan County District Court judge determined there is enough evidence for the case to proceed and rejected a bid by Stines’ attorney to change the charge to manslaughter.
Some of the testimony was from Kentucky State Police Detective Clayton Stamper who discussed surveillance footage of District Judge Kevin Mullins’ office where the shooting occurred.
Stamper says Stines and Mullins had a conversation and made phone calls, then Stines asked to borrow Mullins’ phone, and after seeing his phone walked over to the judge and opened fire.
Stines attorney says based on that, the shooting was an emotional response, not premeditated, and therefore manslaughter, but the judge decided to let it go to the grand jury as murder and see how the evidence plays out.
Stines has pleaded not guilty.