THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, August 29, 1996 TAG: 9608290402
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: STAFF REPORT
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: 36 lines
Prosecutors decided not to pursue two capital murder charges Wednesday against a New York City man accused of killing two women in January.
Charges against David Hughes, 24, were nolle prossed in Norfolk Circuit Court.
Hughes' attorney, Kenneth Melvin, said prosecutors were forced to take that action because crucial DNA test results were not ready, and the state's speedy-trial deadline was approaching.
Prosecutors could not be reached for comment Wednesday. It is not known if they will pursue the charges later or if the case against Hughes will be dropped.
Hughes was arrested Jan. 19 on East Little Creek Road and accused of killing Karan D. Miller, 29, and Angela D. Hawkins, 36.
At that time, police would not discuss the motive except to say that the two women ``had similar occupations.'' Police said the two women were known to be on the street often in areas frequented by prostitutes.
Both women were last seen alive late Jan. 10 or early Jan. 11. Their bodies were found two hours apart in separate areas of the city.
Hawkins' body was found on Marlow Avenue, near the Norfolk Naval Air Station.
Miller's body was found in the parking lot of Lake Taylor Middle School by a student arriving for classes.
Hawkins and Miller frequented the Denby Park and Monticello Village neighborhoods, which are roughly between the spots where the bodies were found, police said at the time. Police did not know where the two women had been killed.
KEYWORDS: MURDER ARREST DNA by CNB