Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, February 5, 1991 TAG: 9102050407
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B-8 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Short
Marlon Jay Johnson of the 1400 block of Patterson Avenue Southwest will be tried as an adult on charges of murder and using a firearm in the slaying of William G. Copeland, 31. Copeland was killed outside his sister's home on the 300 block of 13th Street Southwest last Nov. 16.
Substitute Judge Pat Doherty decided to transfer the case to Circuit Court after hearing testimony last month in Roanoke Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court.
A teen-age friend who accompanied Johnson on the night of the shooting was the only witness to testify at the preliminary hearing. He gave the following account:
The two were on their way to pick up Copeland's nephew when Copeland began to argue with Johnson from his front porch.
As they exchanged words, Copeland began walking toward the trunk of a parked car. Johnson told him, "If you bring something out of that trunk, I'm going to burn you."
Keywords:
ROMUR
by CNB