Judge denies change of venue motion in murder trial

(Stilwell-AP) -- A judge is denying a request to move the retrial of a Sallisaw man on a murder charge and says the trial will begin on March Fifth as scheduled.

Attorneys for James Charles Childress contend the defendant can't get a fair trial in Sequoyah County on the charge of killing rancher Jason Wilson. Defense lawyers say they'll appeal the ruling.

Childress allegedly shot Wilson repeatedly at point-blank range at Wilson's ranch near Muldrow after Wilson confronted Childress about killing one of Wilson's calves.

Childress was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to death, but the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals overturned the conviction. The court overturned the conviction because the judge refused a request to have the jury consider lesser charges.