Post by WaTcHeR on Apr 5, 2006 10:49:05 GMT -5
04/05/2006 - Less than a week after Art Henderson waived his preliminary hearing and a judge set bail at $250,000 cash-only, a trial date was slated in the attempted aggravated murder case against the former Lehi police officer.
Defense attorney Ed Brass asked the judge Tuesday to set a five-day trial date for his client, who is accused of chasing and shooting at his estranged wife and her boyfriend two months ago in Lehi. Henderson is being held in the Salt Lake County Jail.
Judge Samuel McVey consented and set a trial for Henderson July 14, 17,19, 20 and 21.
Henderson is facing five charges of aggravated attempted murder, aggravated assault and criminal mischief domestic violence.
Responding to questions and comments about Henderson's bail, McVey briefly addressed the courtroom's public gallery.
The judge said there had been a lot of "misunderstanding" regarding his bail order. He said under state law and the rights guaranteed citizens by the Constitution, defendants, including Henderson, have a right to bail except in capital murder cases.
"Bail serves a purpose and can't be excessive," McVey said, but cited the violent nature of Henderson's alleged crimes in setting bail at 25 times the normal amount.
He said he had to weigh Henderson's rights with his duty to protect society and the alleged victims in the case. "It's not the court making its own rules ... this court does not deal in judicial activism," McVey said.
Family and friends of Henderson's were seated in the second row of the public gallery at Tuesday's hearing.
According to police, Henderson, armed with a rifle and a handgun, chased his estranged wife Natalie Henderson and her boyfriend Craig Trimble through Lehi Jan. 27, firing several rounds at them. When the couple stopped at a family member's home, Henderson allegedly shot Trimble several times before exchanging gunfire with Lehi police.
Henderson's employment with the Lehi police department was terminated in July 2004 after he was charged with a misdemeanor assault count.
Defense attorney Ed Brass asked the judge Tuesday to set a five-day trial date for his client, who is accused of chasing and shooting at his estranged wife and her boyfriend two months ago in Lehi. Henderson is being held in the Salt Lake County Jail.
Judge Samuel McVey consented and set a trial for Henderson July 14, 17,19, 20 and 21.
Henderson is facing five charges of aggravated attempted murder, aggravated assault and criminal mischief domestic violence.
Responding to questions and comments about Henderson's bail, McVey briefly addressed the courtroom's public gallery.
The judge said there had been a lot of "misunderstanding" regarding his bail order. He said under state law and the rights guaranteed citizens by the Constitution, defendants, including Henderson, have a right to bail except in capital murder cases.
"Bail serves a purpose and can't be excessive," McVey said, but cited the violent nature of Henderson's alleged crimes in setting bail at 25 times the normal amount.
He said he had to weigh Henderson's rights with his duty to protect society and the alleged victims in the case. "It's not the court making its own rules ... this court does not deal in judicial activism," McVey said.
Family and friends of Henderson's were seated in the second row of the public gallery at Tuesday's hearing.
According to police, Henderson, armed with a rifle and a handgun, chased his estranged wife Natalie Henderson and her boyfriend Craig Trimble through Lehi Jan. 27, firing several rounds at them. When the couple stopped at a family member's home, Henderson allegedly shot Trimble several times before exchanging gunfire with Lehi police.
Henderson's employment with the Lehi police department was terminated in July 2004 after he was charged with a misdemeanor assault count.