Further information on a Dolores homicide earlier this year may be revealed Monday in a preliminary hearing for Luther Hampson.
Hampson, 26, is accused of murdering fellow Dolores resident Jonathan Hayes, 27, whose body was found by hikers Jan. 14 near Dolores.
In a prior hearing, District Attorney Russell Wasley said it appears Hayes died from a wound to the throat.
A special prosecutor from Denver is assisting the local district attorneys office in prosecuting the first-degree murder charge.
Daniel W. Edwards is part of the state attorney generals Homicide Assistance Team, which provides support to local elected district attorneys and law enforcement in homicide investigation and prosecution. The team, which has two attorneys and an investigator, worked on cases in eight other counties in 2010, according to the state AGs website.
The DA asked us to be out there, and yes, this is common, said Mike Saccone, a spokesperson for the state AGs office.
On the defense side, Hampson is being represented by Justin Bogan, supervising attorney with the Durango public defenders office.
Hampson elected to retain Bogan as his council in February despite a possible conflict of interest. The conflict resulted because another attorney in Bogans office represented a possible Hampson-case witness in another, unrelated case.
Few details have been released in the circumstances surrounding Hayes death.
Although a public file containing procedural documents surrounding the case is available for viewing, documents detailing the incident remain sealed to the public by judges order.
According to documents in the public file, Hampson was treated for a wound to the hand after the incident. Investigators sought Hampsons medical records to see if the wound on the hand was consistent with a straight-edge razor. The handle of such a razor was found at the scene of the crime, but a blade was not recovered.
The hearing is scheduled for 9 a.m. Monday at the 22nd Judicial District Court in Cortez.
Reach Reid Wright at reidw@cortezjournal.com.
