The trial for the woman accused of murdering Pottsville businessman Patrick Murphy has once again been delayed.
According to court records in New Orleans, Megan (aka Magen) Hall will now stand trial on a second-degree murder charge starting April 20.
Patrick Murphy Murder Trial Delayed Again – New Date: April 20, 2020
This is the latest in a handful of delays to the start of the trial.
Hall, originally from Tennessee, faces the following charges in connection with the death of Murphy, a business owner and public figure in Pottsville:
- Second-degree murder
- Armed robbery
- Obstruction of justice in a homicide investigation
She remains in an Orleans Parish prison cell unable to post bond. Hall’s been in the slammer since turning herself in nearly a year ago after New Orleans PD identified her as the only suspect in Murphy’s death.
Murphy was found dead inside a New Orleans hotel room in the morning hours of Feb. 28, 2019. He allegedly went to the Empress Hotel in New Orleans Treme neighborhood the previous night with Hall, a known prostitute.
Alleged witnesses to the scene say they heard a commotion inside Hall and Murphy’s room that night. Surveillance footage allegedly shows Hall and Murphy entering the room together but only Hall leaving several hours later.
If a jury finds Hall guilty on the most serious charge, she faces a mandatory life sentence. She is currently 26 years old.
Delay After Delay After Delay …
The trial was originally set to begin last fall but got moved to just after the new year. Another delay pushed the trial date back to March but more scheduling conflicts have now pushed it back even further, to April 20.
On Jan. 23, court records show, defense attorney Greg Carter appeared before the court seeking a continuance on the previous March 23 trial date. The following day, the trial date was set for April 20.
In early February, the prosecution said the new trial date could cause a conflict with one of its witnesses but the following day both parties agreed that April 20 is a good start date for the trial.
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Linda
February 13, 2020 at 4:08 pm
Well dang it, another delay. Hard to think it’s almost a year since I woke up to the terrible, and unbelievable news of Patrick’s murder.
Ben Morrissey
July 1, 2020 at 7:33 pm
That girl mostly probably will have a hard time in prison for life.shell get in from guards, and prisoners, such a waste and horrible future to have