Hearing Goes On For Jerry Raney

By Jeffrey Smith, News On 6

MUSKOGEE, OK -- The preliminary hearing for a Haskell man accused of killing his stepdaughter in 2006 is still going. Jerry Raney's preliminary hearing started back in February.

Prosecutors from several counties say preliminary hearings last two, maybe three days. Remember, it's the hearing to even determine if a trial will happen and Jerry Raney's hearing has been spread out over almost three months.

4/17/2009  Related Story: Muskogee Co. Murder Hearing Continues

Raney is charged with murdering his teenager step-daughter and stuffing her body in a barrel.

His prelim was scheduled for three days. There have been eleven days of testimony and more than 30 witnesses have taken the stand.

Raney's attorney says his client dropped Sara Smart off at a Muskogee McDonald's and needs all these witnesses to establish a lack of evidence.

Sara Smart's step-mom says enough is enough.

The Muskogee District Attorney says this is the longest preliminary hearing he has ever seen.

Day 12 of testimony begins Friday morning.