Indiana County President Judge William Martin has issued rulings on several motions by the attorney for Michael Eades Jr., the Tyrone man who is one of four defendants accused in the execution-style killing of a Tyron Howard at Howard’s apartment in Blairsville in 2014.
Judge Martin yesterday formally informed attorney Robert Manzi Jr. and District Attorney Pat Dougherty that after Manzi withdrew motions to suppress two statements Eades made to State Police Trooper Deanna Kirkland following his arrest, he will reserve judgment on excluding a third statement Eades made to Kirkland. The judge will hold a hearing on the admissibility of that third statement on May 1st. Martin will also reserve judgment on a write for Habeas Corpus, and will hold a hearing on Monday on excluding certain forensic evidence from the trial. He granted a motion to separate Eades’ trial from those of his co-defendants.
Police say Eades, Kevin Lee King, Stanley Boynton, and DeAndre Jones participated in the killing of Howard, with Eades and King striking the fatal blows with a sword. It was allegedly a dispute over Howard owing Eades money from drug dealing.
Jury selection for Eades is scheduled for June 19th. He’s charged with criminal homicide, robbery, and conspiracy to both of those offenses.
