Murder trial begins this week
By BRAD KELLAR
Herald-Banner Staff
Trial is scheduled to begin this week for one of three suspects charged in connection with a Quinlan-area murder in June of last year.
Cory Joe Locke is also facing charges of aggravated robbery, aggravated kidnapping and burglary. Jury selection is set for 9 a.m. Monday in the 354th District Court.
Locke is the first of three suspects indicted for murder involving the death of Michael Patrick Bates to face trial.
Locke has also been indicted by the Hunt County grand jury on the aggravated kidnapping and aggravated robbery charges, involving incidents which authorities claim occurred the same day as the murder. A conviction on any of the indictments and Locke could be facing a maximum punishment of up to life in prison.
Locke has also been indicted in connection with the alleged burglary of Bates’ residence.
He has pleaded not guilty to all counts.
Bates, 43, died as the result of a gunshot wound to the chest. A neighbor was reported to have discovered Bates’ body early on the morning of June 2, 2005 in a residence at 1959 Apache and contacted the Hunt County Sheriff’s Office.
Investigators said there had been a party inside the residence the night before Bates’ body was found and a statement issued by the sheriff’s office indicated “several criminal acts had been perpetrated on the victim that same evening by one or more of the suspects prior to the murder”.
Locke and two other defendants were also alleged to have abducted a male victim the same day as Bates’ death and Locke is also accused of being one of three individuals to have removed a pool table, a television, a water cooler and a satellite te levision receiver from Bates’ residence the night of the murder.
The prosecution has subpoenaed at least 16 witnesses to testify during the trial.
