After his conviction in connection with the disappearance and death of Crystal Rogers in 2015, Joseph Lawson is asking for a new trial.
Lawson was on trial alongside Rogers’ ex-boyfriend Brooks Houck.
Lawson was recommended to receive 20 years on conspiracy and five years on tampering to run consecutively after the jury believed that he was involved in the movement of Crystal Rogers’ Impala that was found on the Bluegrass Parkway.
In a motion filed earlier this week, Lawson is asking that his guilty verdict be thrown out or that he be granted a new trial.
According to court documents, Lawson stated that the court should have allowed him a separate trial from Brooks Houck. Steven Lawson, Joseph’s father, was tried separately and convicted.
The motion also states that the introduction of Brooks Houck’s recorded statements, without him being subject to cross-examination, violated Lawson’s right to present a defense and resulted in a “spillover effect.” The inclusion of jurors who were aware that Steven Lawson had been tried prior to Joseph was also detrimental.
Joseph Lawson is set to be sentenced August 21. at 1 p.m.
Source: WAVE
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