New Murphy Murder Trial Date Pick Due on Monday

Monday was supposed to be the start of the Magen Hall murder trial for the death of Pottsville businessman Pat Murphy back in 2019. But another delay in the pre-trial slog means Monday is the day we’ll find out the latest new trial date.

On April 11, Hall appeared in a New Orleans court with her attorney, Devin Jones. She’s facing life in prison on a second-degree murder charge and more years on armed robbery and obstruction of justice charges.

Hall is accused of murdering Murphy back in February 2019 in a New Orleans hotel room. Police say surveillance footage shows Hall and Murphy entering The Empress Hotel together but her leaving alone a few hours later.

Hotel staff discovered Murphy’s body the following morning in the room the two rented. Police say Murphy was stabbed 3 times.

Murphy had been in New Orleans with his wife at the time, on their way home from a trip to Arizona. Hall has an arrest record for solicitation though it’s unclear, at the moment, why Hall and Murphy were together that night.

At Hall’s latest court appearance, a judge granted the state’s motion for a continuance before the start of the trial.

Both legal teams in this case were instructed to pick a new trial date by April 18. Hall has been in prison for 36½ months awaiting trial. She recently was charged with sexual battery related to an incident in Orleans Parish Justice Center.

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• Patrick Murphy Murder Case – The Latest