October 8, 1997 - Motions Filed
The attorney for the youngest of the Lillelid murder suspects is requesting his client be tried separately, while the alleged ringleader in the April triple homicide wants her case heard out of state. Motions expected to be heard by Judge James Beckner Thursday in a Greene County courtroom include those by attorney Bob Jesse, asking that now fifteen year old Jason Blake Bryant be tried separately from the five other suspects. Jesse wants indictments against Bryant dismissed on procedural grounds and also has challenged a judge's decision to try Bryant as an adult. Attorneys for eighteen year old Natasha Wallen Cornett say extensive news coverage and resorts of their clients dealing with the occult are grounds for her trial to be moved out of East Tennessee. Attorneys for twenty year old Joseph Risner are also seeking a change of venue. The three, along with eighteen year old Karen Howell, nineteen year old Edward Mullins, and eighteen year old Crystal Sturgill are accused of the April 6th shootings which led to the deaths of Vidar and Delphinia Lillelid and their daughter Tabitha. Peter Lillelid is recovering from the injuries and living with family members in Sweden.