Accused Sniper Seeks Change Of Venue

{Charleston, West Virginia}...When Shawn Lester was arrested last year in connection with the 2003 sniper-style shooting deaths of Gary Carrier, Jr., Jeanie Patton and Okey Meadows, Jr. it drew national attention. The trial is scheduled to begin May 29th. Thursday, Lester's attorneys appeared before Kanawha County Circuit Judge Duke Bloom to argue for a change of venue. Public Defender George Castelle says there were 4,000 tips from the public given to law enforcement during the sniper investigation and countless media reports at the time of the shootings and more when Lester was arrested. Kanawha County Prosecutor Mark Plants says the defense has a high standard to meet for a change of venue, and, just because jurors have heard about a case, that doesn't rule them out as a potential juror. Plants says it's important overall that the defendant has a fair trail, and it doesn't really make a great difference to him where it happens.