Motions were heard and ruled on in two separate local murder cases last week by Clinton Circuit Judge David L. Williams.

One case involves a defendant who is already serving his sentence after making a plea agreement last year in circuit court following being originally charged with murder in a motor vehicle accident case.

Ira Boles Dyer, III was charged with murder and several other offenses including multiple counts of wanton endangerment following a two-vehicle crash on North 127 in Clinton County in the spring of 2012. That accident took the life of 79-year-old Ina Edwards and resulted in the injury of other occupants from both vehicles.

Following several delays throughout the court proceedings, a plea agreement was reached in the case last year prior to trial.

In a motion filed in Clinton Circuit Court last Thursday, April 3, Defense Attorney Brad Shuffett filed a motion on Dyer’s behalf for shock probation. Judge Williams denied the motion.

In a separate case involving two individuals who are scheduled to stand trial later this spring for murder, Judge Williams, during motion hour, sustained a “motion for certificate” with the order being entered. The motion for certificate was to secure the attendance at trial of an out-of-state witness in the case of Commonwealth vs. Phillips Roberts and Thomas Aaron Roberts.

The local brothers stand accused of murder in relation to the beating death of James Frank Perdue, who was in his 70s. The victim was found dead at his residence near the Wayne County line in September of 2012. Both defendants are being represented by Bethany Catron.

A trial date of June 16-20 is tentatively scheduled in the case in Clinton Circuit Court.