Judge cautions all involved about public statements
Attala County native Terrence Kendale Sample, 33, will remain in the custody of the Holmes County Sheriff’s department after Circuit Judge Jannie Lewis denied his attorney’s request that he be released or receive a reasonable bond in court Monday.
Sample stands accused of murdering 21-year-old McKayla Winston of Goodman and her unborn child, who was due July 4. He is also charged with kidnapping in the case.
Kosciusko attorney Richard Carter, argued that Sample’s rights had been violated since he turned himself in to the Holmes County Sheriff’s Department on July 1, the day Winston’s remains were found.
In court filings that resulted in Monday’s hearing, Carter said his client was held without charges for a period of time, was sent to Yazoo County for a bond hearing without his attorney being informed or present, and that a preliminary hearing was not scheduled in a timely fashion.
After hearing arguments from District Attorney Akillie Malone-Oliver and Carter, Lewis denied the defense request, keeping Sample in custody until his preliminary hearing, which will most likely be held Aug. 1.
Lewis also heard Carter’s petition for a gag order on law enforcement and the prosecution after what he said were numerous statements officials made to the media that amounted to trying the case in the press.
Lewis approved that request, cautioning all parties involved to keep their public comments general, avoiding any statements related to the details of the case.
For more details, see this week’s Star-Herald.
