A trial date has been set for Bobby Spikes, who was arraigned on an additional murder charge in Christian County Circuit Court Monday morning.
Spikes’ attorney, Eric Bearden, entered a not guilty plea on behalf of Spikes to charges that now include two counts of murder, two counts of robbery, and single counts of tampering with physical evidence, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and kidnapping resulting in death.
Spikes, who had addresses of Princeton and Hopkinsville, has been in the Christian County Jail for over two years on charges of murdering Stanley Bussell at the home of Candace Marcel in December 2021. Marcel’s body was found in a car in eastern Trigg County later that day. Both victims had been shot. A superseding indictment handed down in Christian County in February charged Spikes with the death of Marcel, who police said was his girlfriend.
Bearden asked the court for some type of hearing to hear testimony from police on what led to the charges against Spikes in the latest indictment. Because the case was submitted directly to the grand jury, there was no preliminary hearing held.
click to download audioBlake Chambers, the special prosecutor in the case, didn’t feel any additional hearing was needed before trial.
click to download audioBearden said he has received little discovery in the case with Chambers telling the court he has recently received reports from investigators that he will hand over to the defense as required by court rules.
Chambers also informed the court that he was not seeking the death penalty in the case, but was going to add aggravating circumstances to the charges which could mean a sentence of life in prison without parole.
Bearden also requested a court order for some DNA testing to be completed on a hair found by police.
click to download audioChambers said he was told by the state police lab the DNA testing could be completed in the next 60 days, which Judge John Atkins said was welcome news for the progress of the case.
click to download audioJudge Atkins set Spikes’ trial date for November 4, with a June 3 hearing scheduled for the court to rule on a bond motion, whether a preliminary hearing or show cause hearing should be held, and any other motions filed by either side.
Spikes’ bond is $1 million cash.
