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Murder trial stays here

After initially appearing to lean toward moving Clifford Baker’s murder trial to another county, the judge in that case has decided it will stay in Fayette County.
One day after taking under advisement a renewed motion by Baker’s attorneys to move the trial for the Loogootee teen, Judge Michael McHaney denied that motion.
Baker is charged with first-degree murder for allegedly fatally shooting Mike Mahon, 60, and Deb Tish, 53, in their Loogootee home in the early morning hours of Aug. 4, 2010.
He is also charged with home invasion for allegedly entering the home of another neighbor couple and assaulting one of its residents.
In deciding to keep the Baker trial in Fayette County, McHaney sided with the recommendation of Fayette County State’s Attorney Stephen Friedel to enlarge the pool of potential jurors for the trial.
Friedel suggested at a hearing last week that the pool could be increased from the standard number, 60, to 100.
McHaney went beyond that, ruling that 120 potential jurors would be called for the trial.
At this point, the weeks of Aug. 15 and Aug. 22 have been set aside for the jury trial.
McHaney ruled that up to 30 prospective jurors would be questioned on the morning of Aug. 15. If 12 jurors and two alternate jurors have not been chosen out of that group, another 30 would be questioned that afternoon.
If necessary, that process would be repeated on Aug. 16, McHaney ruled.
Baker, who is 16, was 15 last August and is being tried as an adult. He remains in custody at the Madison County Juvenile Detention Center in lieu of $2 million bond.

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