Man Accused of Murdering University of Mississippi Student Requests Trial Venue Change Due to Media Coverage Bias

Man Accused of Murdering Ole Miss Student Seeks Trial Relocation

June 6, 2024

JACKSON, Miss. – A motion for a trial venue change was recently filed by Kevin Horan, defense counsel for Timothy Herrington Jr., who stands accused of killing his fellow University of Mississippi classmate, Jimmy Jay Lee. While the trial is scheduled for October 15th in Lafayette County, Horan argues that the onslaught of media coverage of the case could deny his client a fair hearing.

Media Coverage Perceived As Unfair

Horan’s motion mentions extensive reporting from four media outlets and a string of social media posts conveying “negative and false information about Herrington, and positive information and support for ‘Jay’ Lee”. The motion contends that such widespread publicity has irrevocably tainted the potential jury pool in Lafayette County, thus depriving Herrington a fair trial.

“The information that has been publicized online and newspapers has been severely prejudicial to the defendant to the extent that the potential jury pool in Lafayette County has been irreversibly tainted,” states the motion.

Background of the Accusation

Herrington has been accused and charged with capital murder in relation to Lee’s death. According to the Oxford Police Department, Lee, a member of the LGBTQ community, was last observed on July 8, 2022, at the Campus Walk Apartments located near the Ole Miss campus. Lee had reportedly gone to see Herrington that day.

Subsequently, Herrington appeared in court in August 2022, during which it was revealed that Herrington and Lee shared a sexual relationship. Furthermore, investigators testified they believed Herrington had strangled Lee, pointing to a snapshot of Herrington’s search history in which he had queried “how long does it take to strangle someone” shortly before Lee arrived at his apartment.

However, two years on, Lee’s body has still not been found.

Herrington Maintains His innocence

Despite the heinous accusations, Timothy Herrington Jr., maintains his innocence, arguing that direct evidence linking him to the crime is non-existent and emphasizing that Lee’s body remains unfound. Herrington remains out of jail, released on a $250,000 bond.
Currently, the judge presiding over the case has yet to make a decision on the motion to move the trial from Lafayette County.

Seeking Justice for Jimmy Jay Lee

The case continues to unfold as Herrington prepares to face trial for the alleged murder of Jimmy Jay Lee. As the defense and prosecution continue their preparations, justice awaits Lee and his family as they hope for answers about his tragic end.

Stay tuned for further updates on this case.