Trial Of Accused Child Killer Delayed

Friday, July 20th 2007, 10:27 am

By: News On 6

NORMAN, Okla. (AP) _ The first-degree murder trial of a Purcell man accused of killing his 10-year-old neighbor as part of a cannibalistic plot has been postponed after the lead defense attorney stepped down.

McClain County District Judge Candace Blalock last week postponed the trial of Kevin Ray Underwood, 27, a former grocery store stocker accused of killing 10-year-old Jamie Rose Bolin, in April 2006, court records show.

Jamie's body was found in a plastic tub in Underwood's closet three days after her disappearance. Underwood's trial was scheduled to begin Aug. 13 in Cleveland County, where Blalock ordered the trial moved because of extensive pretrial publicity.

At a July 11 hearing, Blalock was informed that defense attorney Sylas Lyman will be replaced by L. Wayne Woodyard. Both attorneys work for Oklahoma Indigent Defense System.

Because of the switch, lawyers for the defense said they could not be ready for trial in August, and Blalock struck the trial dates from the record.

Phone messages left by The Associated Press on Friday with OIDS offices in Norman and Sapulpa weren't immediately returned.

No new dates have been set for the trial.

District Attorney Greg Mashburn said he believes the trial may not begin until spring 2008, and said he was disappointed in the delay.

``We were ready for trial, and the fact that we have to put it off means that justice will be delayed,'' Mashburn said.

Related Stories:

11/30/2006 Court Hearing Delayed For Accused Child Killer

12/6/2006 Hearing Set For Man Charged In Purcell Girl's Slaying

12/14/2006 Change Of Venue To Be Sought In Purcell Murder Trial

1/19/2007 Defense Team Says Poll Shows Kevin Underwood Trial Should Be Moved

2/23/2007 Change Of Venue

6/27/2007 Court Documents State Murder Suspect Discussed Cannibalism