CALL THE ANONYMOUS POLICE INFORMATION HOTLINE. A Kentucky FAMILY IS OUTRAGED AFTER A LEXINGTON MAN WAS GRANTED A NEW TRIAL FOR MURDER. JAMES HENDREN, JUNIOR, WAS CONVICTED OF SHOOTING HIS 23-YEAR-OLD SON DURING AN ARGUMENT ON FATHER’S DAY 2018. JURORS HAD RECOMMENDED LIFE PRISON, RELATIVES CAME TO COURT ON THURSDAY FOR SENTENCE, BUT THE JUDGE INSTEAD A DEFENSE MOTION FOR A NEW TRIAL WAS UNEXPECTEDLY GRANTED. So when he came back for a new trial, we were shocked. I’M ANNOYED, I’M ANGRY, I JUST WANT TO GET JUSTICE FOR HIM AND WE STILL CAN’T GET JUSTICE
Kentucky family outraged by retrial of man convicted of murdering son on Father’s Day
Updated: 12:35 pm EDT June 9, 2024
A Kentucky family is outraged after a Lexington man was granted a new trial for murder. James Hendron, Jr. was convicted of shooting his 23-year-old son, Austin Hendron, during an argument on Father’s Day in 2018. Jurors had recommended a life sentence in prison for Hendron. Family members came to court Thursday to receive their sentencing, but instead the judge unexpectedly granted a defense motion for a new trial. Hendron’s lawyers have argued that prosecutors presented misleading testimony at trial even though prosecutors denied it, according to KeynoteUSA affiliate WKYT. Kathryn Schafer, assistant commonwealth’s attorney for Fayette County, argued that Hendron’s defense raised no issues about such testimony during the trial, only after a life sentence was recommended following the conviction. At the retrial we were shocked,” said the victim’s mother, Tracy Curtsinger. “I’m upset. I’m angry. “I just want justice for him, and we still can’t get justice because of this judge.” Schafer argued that the victim’s family had a constitutional right to be heard, and that’s when, WKYT reports, the judge threatened Schafer with arrest. “After that happened, the family, of course, is very upset because they were not allowed to speak, the Commonwealth was not allowed to speak and the judge ordered the courtroom to be cleared,” Schafer said. A new trial date has not been set. It hasn’t been set yet.
LEXINGTON, Ky. —
A Kentucky family is outraged after a Lexington man was granted a new trial for murder.
James Hendron, Jr. was convicted of shooting his 23-year-old son, Austin Hendron, during an argument on Father’s Day in 2018.
Jurors had recommended life in prison for Hendron.
Family members went to court Thursday to ask for his sentencing, but instead the judge unexpectedly granted a defense motion for a new trial.
Hendron’s lawyers have argued that prosecutors presented misleading testimony at trial even though prosecutors denied it, according to KeynoteUSA affiliate WKYT.
Fayette County Deputy Prosecutor Kathryn Schafer argued that Hendron’s defense raised no issues about such testimony during the trial, only after a life sentence was recommended following the conviction.
“So when he came back and had a new trial, we were shocked,” said the victim’s mother, Tracy Curtsinger. “I’m upset. I’m angry. I just want justice for him and we still can’t get it thanks to this judge.”
Schafer argued that the victim’s family had a constitutional right to be heard and that’s when, WKYT reports, the judge threatened to arrest Schafer.
“After that happened, the family, of course, is very upset because they were not allowed to speak, the Commonwealth was not allowed to speak and the judge ordered the courtroom to be cleared,” Schafer said.
A new trial date has not yet been set.
Keynote USA
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