KINGWOOD — An Aug. 20 trial date has been set for a Preston County murder case.
Joseph Edward Harrison, 27, of Kingwood, was indicted last year on charges of first-degree murder and third or subsequent offense domestic battery in the stabbing death of his estranged wife, Kimberly Harrison, in May 2018.
Preston Circuit Judge Steve Shaffer also opened juvenile and some other records to attorneys only.
Harrison’s attorneys, Sam Hess and Belinda Haynie, also asked to interview a juvenile witness who was interviewed by police at the time of the murder, at Rodeheaver’s Trailer Court, in Kingwood.
Preston Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Savannah Wilkins said a comprehensive interview hadn’t been done because she initially didn’t think she would call the child as a witness.
But an adult male witness was in a serious car accident and may not be able to testify when he is discharged from the hospital, Wilkins said, so the child may be called to testify.
The child has been undergoing counseling since the incident, Haynie noted, adding records of those sessions could be relevant to the defense’s case. Wilkins said she would arrange an interview.
Hess asked the judge to review the latest Department of Health and Human Resources (DHHR) case that involved Harrison, to decide if it should be released.
Shaffer asked if he was inferring that there would be information on alleged domestic violence by the victim in the file? Hess said that and possibly psychological evaluations done on both Joseph and Kimberly Harrison.
The judge said he will review the case to determine whether denying the motion would be prejudicial to Harrison at trial.
The defense also asked that Harrison’s juvenile records be unsealed. The judge did so but noted they are also open to the prosecution now.
“We have considered that,” Hess said.
Finally, the defense asked for a Chapter 49, or child welfare, case in which Harrison was involved as a minor of about 8 years old be opened just to those involved in the case to review. Shaffer did so but will enter a protective order saying that nothing related to Harrison’s siblings is to be released.
Wilkins said an autopsy report was only recently received, and the victim’s phone was being examined by the Granville Police Department, because Preston police did not have the software to open it.
