The couple accused of murdering Kinston resident Laura Ackerson are being tried separately, again.
Monday, Wake County Superior Court Judge Donald Stephens split the cases of Grant Ruffin Hayes III and Amanda Perry Hayes, who are accused of murdering Ackerson in 2011.
Rosemary Godwin, attorney for Amanda Hayes, filed a number of motions on April 8, including ones asking for a separate table for her to sit at, that Grant Hayes — in a letter from jail — threatened to kill her, and that the defendants have opposing defenses.
WRAL CBS-5 reported April 11, “Godwin says in other motions that Amanda Hayes has an alibi for the time of Ackerson’s death and that she was coerced into helping dispose of the body because she was worried Grant Hayes would kill her, her daughter and his two sons.”
Godwin refused to comment to The Free Press.
In light of the motions, Stephens said the decision to combine the Hayes’ cases March 1 needed to be re-evaluated. Grant Hayes’ attorney, Jeff Cutler, has said the defense strategy taken by Amanda Hayes makes a combined defense untenable.
Free Press efforts to discuss Stephens’ ruling with Cutler were unsuccessful.
WakeCountyprosecutors opposed splitting the cases, believing Amanda Hayes to have participated in the Ackerson murder with every bit of culpability as Grant Hayes.
With the ruling, Amanda Hayes’ court date is set for May 20, while prosecutors will try Grant Hayes Aug. 22.
Wes Wolfe can be reached at 252-559-1075 or wes.wolfe@kinston.com. Follow him on Twitter @WolfeReports.