Trial puts on brakes for NASCAR race The new trial for a Mercer County man charged with the 1989 murders of three members of a Pocahontas, Va., family will take a back seat to a NASCAR race scheduled during the projected trial dates. The is scheduled to go on trial from March 3 to April 4, 2003 at U.S. District Court in Abingdon. The case was tried previously on federal capital murder charges in a trial that started Sept. 4 and ended Oct. 4, when the jury reported they could not reach a unanimous verdict. U.S. District Judge James P. Jones scheduled the new trial to start in March of 2003. Assistant U.S. Attorney Anthony P. Giorno learned that the trial would be going on during the weekend of the 2003 Food City 500. Although NASCAR [dates have been released by the way Bristol is 3-23] has not yet released the dates for its 2003 racing schedule, the 2002 Food City 500 was on March 24. “The hotel told us that we couldn’t get reservations on the weekend of the Bristol Race,” Giorno said. “The race doesn’t appear on the NASCAR website yet, but apparently the hospitality industry has advanced notice.” Giorno filed a motion on Oct. 28, asking the court to “adjourn trial because of the NASCAR race.” In a telephone interview, Giorno indicated the adjournment is “just for that Friday.” Jones granted the government’s motion.(Daily Telegraph)(11-7-2002)
