LYNCHBURG, Va. (AP) — Two Lynchburg men face capital murder charges stemming from separate slayings in Campbell County during the same week last year.
A grand jury on Monday charged Vincent Earl Spinner with capital murder, second-degree murder and robbery, The News & Advance (http://bit.ly/X2XkxL) reported. Spinner, 50, is accused of killing his father-in-law, 89-year-old James Payne, while trying to rob him last August.
Also Monday, Commonwealth's Attorney Paul McAndrews filed notice that he plans to seek the death penalty against Anthony Witt, who also was charged with capital murder, second-degree murder and robbery. Witt, 26, is accused of killing and robbing 53-year-old Barbara Martin last August.
Investigators previously have said Witt was apprehended driving Martin's vehicle. They testified at a preliminary hearing that Witt argued with Martin about his drug use before hitting her with a claw hammer and cutting her neck with a knife.
Witt's trial date will be set on June 19. No hearing has been set in Spinner's case.
Sheriff Steve Hutcherson said the capital cases, and another just wrapping up in Appomattox County, shouldn't cause residents any concern. Some years there will be several homicides, he said, while noting that the county could go a few years without one.
"It's happened in the past, and it'll happen in the future," he said.
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