The Register-Herald, Beckley, West Virginia

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February 26, 2013

Judge denies murder suspect’s bond motion

By Sarah Plummer Register-Herald Reporter

BECKLEY — Raleigh County Circuit Court Judge Robert Burnside Monday upheld the prosecuting attorney’s motion to dismiss a second bond hearing for Dominic M. Paige, a Beckley man charged with first degree murder of Danny Kennedy.

Kennedy was shot Nov. 3, police said, when Paige and two other individuals were attempting to turn around in Kennedy’s driveway on Cohen Street and their car got stuck.

A verbal dispute ensued during which officials say Paige shot the 54-year-old Kennedy.

Prosecutor Kristen Keller said Burnside denied bond to Paige on Dec. 7 and no new evidence would be available to the court in a second hearing.

Paige’s defense attorney, Edward ReBrook III, said the court was told Paige had two felony charges against him when his offenses were speeding, jay walking and criminal coercion.

ReBrook added that the 22-year-old has a fiancée and a child living in Raleigh County and is not a flight risk.

He also noted that while three individuals are reportedly involved in the murder, Paige was the only suspect to stay at the scene and voluntarily give a statement to police.

Keller said if the defense had an objection to the evidence submitted at the first hearing, the time to enter an objection was during the first hearing. No such objection was recorded during the earlier bond hearing.

She also said that statements indicate Paige attempted to flee the scene.

Ultimately Burnside decided that even without consideration of the prior charges, the outcome of the first hearing would remain the same and dismissed the bond hearing for Paige.

Paige is still being held in Southern Regional Jail.

— E-mail: splummer@register-herald.com

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