One of the men convicted in the Crystal Rogers investigation is requesting a new trial.
Attorneys for Joseph Lawson, who on July 8 was found guilty of Conspiracy to Commit Murder and Tampering with Physical Evidence for his role in the disappearance of Rogers, filed a “Motion for the Judgement Notwithstanding the Verdict, or In the Alternative, Motion for a New Trial” with the Nelson Circuit Court Monday.
Lawson’s attorneys argue in the motion that his case should have been severed from Brooks Houck, who was found guilty of Murder and Tampering with Physical Evidence in the same trial as Lawson. The motion states: “The introduction of Brooks Houck’s recorded statements without him being subject to cross-examination denied (Lawson) his right to present a defense and his right to confrontation.”
The motion also states that the conviction of Steven Lawson a month prior to the Houck/Lawson trial “was an elephant in the room the entire trial.” The motion argues that the court denied Joseph Lawson’s defense the opportunity to strike jurors with knowledge of Steven Lawson’s case which was featured in Warren County media, and therefore Joseph Lawson’s case was subject to pretrial publicity.
The motion also raises concerns with what the defense argues is “prejudicial over-simplification of the requirements for a Murder conviction” in Houck’s case spilling over into Lawson’s case, along with concerns with instructions given to the jury prior to deliberations.
The motion will be heard during Lawson’s sentencing hearing, which is scheduled for August 21 in Nelson Circuit Court.
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