Lisa Marchesoni
Posted: Friday, March 5, 2010 12:29 pm

Trial for a former sheriff’s sergeant accused of two crimes relating to a traffic fatality was set May 17.

Former Detective Sgt. Ron Killings was indicted in February 2009 with reckless homicide in the traffic death of Lakeisha White, 11, of Hopkinsville, Ky. A Hamilton County jury found him not guilty of homicide Feb. 11.

Killings faces an additional trial on charges of giving a false statement to Murfreesboro Police and tampering with evidence, accusing him of concealing liquor bottles so the containers would not be available as evidence.

Circuit Court Judge David Bragg ruled earlier since Killings’ blood-alcohol showed he was not drinking at the time, he would be unfairly prejudiced if jurors heard allegations about alcohol in his patrol car. Bragg separated the charges of give a false statement and tampering with evidence from the reckless homicide trial for a later prosecution.

Special Prosecutor Joe Baugh and Killings’ attorney Terry Fann asked Bragg Friday to set a date for the trial. Because of extensive pretrial publicity, Fann is expected to ask to choose a jury from another county. It is estimated the trial will last four days.

Killings remains free on bond while awaiting prosecution on the last two charges.