starherald.net - Kosciusko, MS

February 1, 2010

Mistrial ends Love's day in court

By Leslie N. Dees

The capital murder trial of Barry Love will not be heard today.

Jurors statements tainted the pool of jurors and the defense attorneys, county defender Rosalind Jordan and Greenwood attorney Donald Stuckey, were granted a mistrial by Attala County Circuit Court Judge C.E. Morgan III.

The defense is going to seek a change of venue. No paper work has been filed at the Attala County Circuit Clerk’s office.

Love, 24, is charged with capital murder and two counts of aggravated assault in the November 2008 shooting at at Hill Brothers Logging Shop on Highway 19 North.

Witnesses said three black males attempted to rob the shop and began to shoot inside the building.

Jesse Earl Hill, 52, was found dead at the scene. Hill received a gunshot wound to the chest.

Donnie Elmore, 56, was shot in the leg and transported to University Medical Center in Jackson and Jimmy Cook, 42, was grazed by a bullet on his side.

Robert Landfair, 27, of Durant, pleaded guilty in Attala County Circuit Court in September to accessory after the fact to commit robbery and conspiracy to commit armed robbery. He will serve 10 years in prison.

Demetrius Roberson, 27, and Justin James, 22, both of Durant, are still awaiting trial dates.