Witnesses to testify in Chris Lane murder

Video footage and evidence from key witnesses will shed light on the Oklahoma murder of Australian Chris Lane.

New evidence in the Oklahoma drive-by murder of Australian baseballer Chris Lane is expected to be revealed when the three teenagers accused of the shooting appear in court.

James Edwards, 16, Chancey Luna, 16, and Michael Jones, 18, will be led into the Stephens County Courthouse in Duncan, Oklahoma, on Tuesday (Wednesday AEDT) under heavy guard for a preliminary hearing.

A preliminary hearing is similar to an Australian committal hearing.

Witnesses to the murder of Melbourne 22-year-old Mr Lane will testify before district Judge Joe Enos and police are expected to reveal ballistic and other evidence, including surveillance footage, alleging the teen trio's role in the August 16 drive-by shooting on a quiet street.

Witnesses subpoenaed include Odessa Barnes, a Duncan resident who Edwards, Luna and Jones allegedly visited shortly after Lane was murdered.

Police searched Barnes' home for the alleged murder weapon, a .22 revolver.

James Johnson, who called police four hours after the murder to say juveniles with guns were at his residence, has also been subpoenaed.

When police arrived at Johnson's home they arrested Edwards, Luna and Jones.

Surveillance footage from Don Jose's Restaurant in Duncan that shows the black Ford Focus the teens were allegedly in when Mr Lane was shot is expected to be played in court.

Lane, who had a baseball scholarship at Oklahoma's East Central University, was staying at his girlfriend Sarah Harper's home in Duncan when he was murdered.

Police alleged Jones, who turned 18 in December, told them he, Edwards and Luna were bored and randomly selected Lane to shoot when they saw him jogging along the street.

The trio face life in prison if convicted of the murder, although their lawyers will attempt to have them prosecuted as juveniles - which could cut potential sentences if they are found guilty.


2 min read

Published

Updated

Source: AAP



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