Vanished witness delays Easton murder trial
Prosecutors look for girlfriend of man accused of fatal shooting, but clock ticking on his right to a speedy trial
A missing witness could sink an Easton homicide prosecution.
Authorities say Tatiana Lockhart saw her boyfriend gun down a man in the West Ward in 2016. But as the trial looms for 24-year-old Jeffrey R. Raymond, police have been unable to locate their witness, who they say is essential to proving their case.
On Wednesday, three investigators testified in Northampton County Court to their efforts to find Lockhart, which have stretched as far as West Virginia, where they heard she may have gone. The hearing came as Raymond’s lawyer is seeking to have the charges against his client thrown out, arguing that delays by prosecutors have violated his right to a speedy trial.
Raymond is charged with killing 35-year-old Michael A. Bond on May 9, 2016, on the 600 block of Church Street, which is on the edge of Easton’s downtown. Police say Lockhart witnessed Raymond open fire on Bond, who was shot repeatedly.
Raymond’s trial was slated to begin this week, but on Monday prosecutors asked Judge Stephen Baratta for a delay, the third in the case. Assistant District Attorney William Blake said authorities need Lockhart to proceed.
The law gives prosecutors 365 days to bring defendants to trial or risk the charges being dismissed. Defense attorney Herbert McDuffy Jr. says that threshold has been crossed, and he is now asking Baratta to toss the case.
Raymond has been in Northampton County’s custody since Oct. 12, 2017, when he was arrested in New York, where authorities say he fled. But in calculating the 365-day window, Baratta must exclude delays that aren’t the fault of the prosecution, including any driven by the defense or the judge’s own schedule.
Blake says he’s still within his requirements, though he acknowledged this week that the count is close. Blake said he cannot be blamed for the missing Lockhart, and that delays due to her absence should not count against him.
Baratta will rule at a later date after both sides submit legal briefs.
McDuffy declined to comment Wednesday outside of court.
“I’ll save that for the brief,” he said. “We don’t want to litigate in the newspaper.”
The Easton charges are one of two murder cases that Raymond faces. Last week, a grand jury in New York indicted him on accusations he shot two people in Brooklyn on Sept. 3, 2016, four months after Bond’s killing, according to Blake.
On Wednesday, Baratta questioned Blake on his intentions for Raymond if Lockhart isn’t found.
“Do we just keep him forever?” Baratta asked.
Blake said he is seeking to delay the trial only until April 1. If Lockhart is still unaccounted for then, he said, prosecutors will have to decide whether the case can proceed.
riley.yates@mcall.com Twitter @riley_yates 610-554-8245