Supreme Court hears appeals

The West Virginia Supreme Court will hear the appeals

of two Morgan County criminal cases when the court sits

in the Hampshire County

Courthouse in Romney on Tuesday afternoon, April 17.

On the docket that day is

the appeal of Denver A.

Youngblood, Jr., who was found guilty in 2003 of two counts of sexual assault,

two counts of brandishing a firearm and one count of indecent exposure. Youngblood is serving a 25-to-50 year sentence.

The court will hear arguments about whether the police and prosecutor withheld evidence in the trial.

Also being considered is the appeal of Brian Daniel Murray, who was found guilty in

2005 of failing to stop and render aid when his car hit and killed a 19-year-old bicyclist in June, 2004.

Murray is presently in the midst of a one-to-three year sentence and is in home incarceration.

He is seeking a new trial, claiming that Circuit Judge Gray Silver rushed the jury's deliberations and that there were other trial irregularities, as well.

The one-day session is part of the Legal Advancement for West Virginia Students (LAWS) project. Students will get the chance to see the court in action.

Under the program, the five State Supreme Court justices have occasionally travelled

the state and heard cases

in local courthouses since

1999.