At attorney representing Megan (aka Magen) Hall appeared before an Orleans Parish judge last week for the latest pre-trial conference in the upcoming murder trial in the death of Pottsville businessman Patrick Murphy.
And although the case is technically in a “trial position” we’re no closer to an actual trial because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to court records, attorney John Fuller appeared via “virtual courtroom” on Aug. 12 for a pre-trial conference. It was the second pre-trial conference in this case since July 1.
However, there are no criminal jury trials taking place in Orleans Parish, Louisiana, due to ongoing restrictions caused by the pandemic.
Patrick Murphy Murder Trial in New Orleans on Hold Indefinitely
Hall faces life in prison if she’s convicted of second-degree murder for her role in Murphy’s death. A trial date couldn’t be reached late last year due to scheduling conflicts and any plans for a trial at the beginning of 2020 were wiped out by the pandemic response.
It did appear that courts were slowly beginning to reopen in Orleans Parish. But on Aug. 10, courts were ordered closed once again when two sheriff’s deputies tested positive for the virus, according to a report from WDSU-TV. Courts reportedly reopened on Monday but only on a limited basis. No jury trials are being held.
Previously, a court spokesman told The Canary that Hall’s trial likely would face delays due to the complications of witnesses traveling from out-of-state to Louisiana.
Lengthy Pre-Trial Prison Stay
As of Tuesday, Hall’s been in an Orleans Parish prison for 534 days awaiting trial. She’s being held on $750,000 bond. Back in April, her attorneys petitioned to have her bond reduced but that was denied.
In addition to second-degree murder, which carries a mandatory life sentence upon conviction, Hall faces charges of armed robbery and obstruction of justice.
Hall is accused of stabbing Murphy to death inside Room 110 at the Empress Hotel in New Orleans’ Treme neighborhood back on Feb. 28, 2019. His body was discovered the morning after the two reportedly checked into the hotel.
Hall has a criminal past linked with prostitution. Witnesses staying at the Empress Hotel that night report hearing a verbal argument between Hall and Murphy.
Murphy was reportedly in New Orleans with his wife on their way back from a business trip to Arizona.
The same night they checked in together at the Empress Hotel, Hall was seen on surveillance cameras leaving the hotel alone.
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Anon E. Mouse
August 18, 2020 at 1:45 pm
By the time this goes to trial the case will be two years old. Witnesses recollections will be compromised, some witnesses may no longer exist, and the local DA probably has more cases than he knows what to do with because of Covid 19.
I’m betting they plead this down to involuntary manslaughter, give her credit for time served, and out she goes with 5 years probation!
Linda H
August 18, 2020 at 2:56 pm
UGH, from the very start a few of us thought this gal is going to walk. Damn Covid 19, might just make that happen.
Who knows, she might be a serial killer and no one has connected the dots.
Jason Bourne
August 18, 2020 at 4:54 pm
Without knowing the circumstances in this case, what it is they’re fighting over in the hotel room, if this young woman was threatened or violated by Murphy in any way then Murphy got what he deserved. This woman probably has to deal with this often as a prostitute and I could understand how she could stab him if that is the case. Spare me the morality of prostitution because he’s no better than she is. He’s in town with his wife and he’s in a room having sex with a young prostitute. If that’s the case she should be let go on time served.
Marie
August 18, 2020 at 6:31 pm
If that was the case of her “defending” herself, then why just walk out of the hotel casually…why wouldn’t she yell for help, call 911, anything?! No, she walked out, prob robbed him for whatever he had on him and called it a day. That’s murder! It’s a shame that the family cannot have full closure of what had happened, regardless of why he was in that room.
Jason Bourne
August 18, 2020 at 8:20 pm
That’s so plastic. He was so great to his community but at the same time he likes to pick up young prostitute’s. That’s so fake. That’s like the priest we should forgive for his service and forget about all the little boys she’s molested.
You’re the one who needs to be educated. The girl is the innocent one. Economic conditioning has made her this way. If you think people are who they because that’s just who they are then your sorely mistaken. How do you know her? Did you ever walk in her shoes? Poor, is a crime against humanity because it makes people do things that otherwise they would never do. She isn’t evil. She doesn’t belong in jail for the rest of her life.
Rob
August 18, 2020 at 8:03 pm
You need education in many areas, “Jason Bourne”. A person that (proves they don’t) doesn’t know much about a subject (by what they say) should not say anything at all.
Patrick Murphy was not an attorney.
He did a great service to his local community irregardless of what he did in private.
A toxic person that supports an already convicted prostitute accused of murdering a person that helped their community instead of being in support of the victim should probably be with the accused, removed from free society.
Frank
August 21, 2020 at 6:26 pm
Patrick Murphy was murdered because of Republicans. The young woman just couldn’t be responsible. It is Republicans fault. And you say he deserved it.
Boy, you are seriously ill.
Regular people out there, this is the liberal mind. Full of hate and insane ideas.
Frank
August 21, 2020 at 6:34 pm
Patrick Murphy was involved in helping many people in the community. He gave lots of time and treasure to those in need. He talked to the man living on the street just the same as the man who owned several companies. He wasn’t one to lecture people in what they should do to help others. He actually did help others.
Linda H
August 18, 2020 at 7:25 pm
Weird, I get email notifications of more posts, but come here and can not see the posts. They are in my email. One Patrick owned jewelry stores, was not a hot shot lawyer. Two, she did rob him and attempted to sell the watches at a pawn shop. The shop ran the serial numbers and the watches came up as belonging to the body found at the hotel.
Jason Bourne
August 19, 2020 at 8:34 pm
I just read up on the evidence in this case. There’s no way unless she sunk herself in the interview with the cops that she will be found guilty of 2nd degree murder. She certainly did not go there with killing him in mind because she checked in and left her I’d at the front desk so it definitely isn’t 1st degree because there’s no premeditation. They got there at 2 and the couple next door heard them arguing and fight around 330. The witness heard the girl tell him to get in the bathroom. If she was so enraged and wanted to kill him she just would have at this point. Why the bathroom? Because she was robbing him and was going to most likely tie him up or lock him in the bathroom so she could get away without him being able to chase her or find out where she went. But he fought with her and at this point she’s just defending herself. His stab wounds are all on the his front side. They’ll never convince a jury of 2nd degree murder.
Jason Bourne
August 21, 2020 at 6:46 pm
Lol, I didn’t say he was killed by Republicans. What I said is the tragedy here is that the woman has to lower herself to prostitution because of Republican enslavement practices. She’s just Human Capital Stock in your system. Now I did just throw that in there because of my personal crusade against you losers because your economic system is 1984 and you’re just a bunch of minions for the devil. But I don’t feel a bit sorry about Mr. Murphy. If this was Joe Blow the mechanic, you would be saying the same thing. But since he’s Patrick Murphy, he’s entitled to prostitutes who are old enough to be his granddaughter because the poor are just there to be taken advantage of and you believe that. You’re the same people who support Halcovage. You know he’s guilty but since he’s some local God it’s ok for him to treat women that way. The reality of it is, Mr. Murphy is no better than Ms. Hall.
Just sayin
August 21, 2020 at 8:46 pm
Agree jb. He’s no saint clearly. You lie down with dogs you will get fleas. People who visit prostitutes put themselves at risk too…You don’t know the mental health of the person you are with, chances are it’s not good.
PTFloridians
August 22, 2020 at 12:11 pm
…spoken like a gin-u-ine product of a liberal arts school.
…it HAD to be someone else’s fault for her poor decision-making skills and choices in life
Jason Bourne
August 22, 2020 at 12:56 pm
Well PT, I would say Mr. Murphy made some pretty bad decisions in his life as well. Wasn’t like she forced him in that hotel room. I’m also sure it wasn’t his first time.
PTFloridians
August 22, 2020 at 11:13 pm
Of course…two wrongs never make a right.
…well said.
Linda H
August 22, 2020 at 1:06 pm
HA I like (not) how this has turned political and that the young woman was driven to this type of income.
My bet, she was also collecting Welfare and like it or not, she was screwing all of us, with our pants on.
Pat did what he did, she was selling and he was buying. That did not give her the right to his watches, or to stab him to death. Not like she left that hotel and called 911 to say there was a guy bleeding to death in room ???
Just because he was old and she was young did not mean he deserved to die. Trust me, most guys who go and pay for some pleasure are old, and most of the gals are young (er) Not often you hear of a 20 something year old guy paying a 60 something year old woman. Won’t say it does not happen, but its not the usual game, two adults play.
Jason Bourne
August 23, 2020 at 5:27 am
You don’t even know what happened inside that hotel room. You just assume it’s 2nd degree murder. Because she’s a prostitute and he’s a well to do businessman.
Linda H
August 23, 2020 at 7:19 am
Nor does anyone else know what happened in that room. UNLESS, someone was smart and recorded everything and sent it to the cloud.
Hmmmmm . . . What do they really know? Lot more is known then has been shared with the public. I will not say more about it.
Jason Bourne
August 23, 2020 at 7:23 am
Hey Linda, how do you know what they have? It’s common practice by prosecutors to overcharge. They didn’t present that much at the hearing.
Jose papooppooh
October 21, 2020 at 6:36 am
Jason Bourne I’m here for two seconds and I can’t stand you or any of your posts. You have to much time on your hands. Get a job, maybe become a pimp so prostitutes can be treated like the queens they should be.