Judge pushes Champion trial back to next year
By Kat Russell, Reporter
The Paducah Sun
May 23, 2016
http://www.paducahsun.com/news/local/judge-pushes-champion-trial-back-to-next-year/article_9f064b72-5b0d-11e7-8803-10604b9f0f42.html
The trial of an Oak Grove man accused in Trigg County of murdering his family and another man has been pushed to early next year.
Ryan Champion, 36, was charged in 2014 with four counts of capital murder and one count of kidnapping after the bodies of his father, Lindsey Champion, 62; mother, Joy Champion, 60; sister Emily Champion, 31; and his alleged accomplice Vito Riservato, 22, were found at the Champion family home.
In court Friday, Trigg Circuit Judge C.A. "Woody" Woodall granted Champion's motion to delay the trial date, moving it from Aug. 15 to Feb. 20, 2017. The defense had requested the trial be moved to July 2017.
The motion for a continuance was filed by Champion's attorneys, Joanne Lynch and Audrey Woosnam, who work for the Capital Trial Branch of the public defender's office. It stated more time was needed to properly prepare a defense.
According to the motion, the defense is still waiting to receive several requested records, which they say are "highly relevant" to Champion's defense.
Among them are Champion's health and history records, physical and mental health assessments from the U.S. armed forces, and his adoption records.
"The records will provide additional bases for investigation into Mr. Champion's history and health that must be completed before trial," the motion read. "The records will also enable the defense to intelligently choose an expert, or experts, to assist in Mr. Champion's defense."
The defense also said more time is needed to comb through more than 1,600 pages of documents, as well as hundreds of photos and audio and video files. The motion states the defense has diligently worked to review all case material, but lacks sufficient resources to do so within the original time frame.
Following the hearing, Commonwealth Attorney Carrie Ovey-Wiggins said she was disappointed with Woodall's decision.
"I adamantly opposed the delay, and the victims' family members were adamantly opposed to it," she said. "My argument opposing was that the August trial date was more than sufficient time to prepare their case. It seems as though the defense wants unlimited time to receive information that may or may not prove relevant to their defense of Mr. Champion."
She added, "I'm ready to go to trial, the victims' family members are ready for the case to go to trial. The victims' family and the community need closure so they can start the healing process."
Ryan Champion, 36, was charged in 2014 with four counts of capital murder and one count of kidnapping after the bodies of his father, Lindsey Champion, 62; mother, Joy Champion, 60; sister Emily Champion, 31; and his alleged accomplice Vito Riservato, 22, were found at the Champion family home.
In court Friday, Trigg Circuit Judge C.A. "Woody" Woodall granted Champion's motion to delay the trial date, moving it from Aug. 15 to Feb. 20, 2017. The defense had requested the trial be moved to July 2017.
The motion for a continuance was filed by Champion's attorneys, Joanne Lynch and Audrey Woosnam, who work for the Capital Trial Branch of the public defender's office. It stated more time was needed to properly prepare a defense.
According to the motion, the defense is still waiting to receive several requested records, which they say are "highly relevant" to Champion's defense.
Among them are Champion's health and history records, physical and mental health assessments from the U.S. armed forces, and his adoption records.
"The records will provide additional bases for investigation into Mr. Champion's history and health that must be completed before trial," the motion read. "The records will also enable the defense to intelligently choose an expert, or experts, to assist in Mr. Champion's defense."
The defense also said more time is needed to comb through more than 1,600 pages of documents, as well as hundreds of photos and audio and video files. The motion states the defense has diligently worked to review all case material, but lacks sufficient resources to do so within the original time frame.
Following the hearing, Commonwealth Attorney Carrie Ovey-Wiggins said she was disappointed with Woodall's decision.
"I adamantly opposed the delay, and the victims' family members were adamantly opposed to it," she said. "My argument opposing was that the August trial date was more than sufficient time to prepare their case. It seems as though the defense wants unlimited time to receive information that may or may not prove relevant to their defense of Mr. Champion."
She added, "I'm ready to go to trial, the victims' family members are ready for the case to go to trial. The victims' family and the community need closure so they can start the healing process."
