The four suspects in the April 17 Carroll double homicide: (clockwise from upper left) Ricky Knickerbocker, Davide Coggins, Joshua McCormick and Steven Todd.
MAYVILLE – The trial for one of the four men accused of killing a couple from the town of Carroll is moving forward.
The Jamestown Post-Journal is reporting Friday that the first pre-trial hearing of 34 year-old Davide Coggins got underway Thursday in Chautauqua County Court.
Coggins is one of four men from the Elmira area accused of driving to Chautauqua County, burglarizing the home of Gordon and Joyce Skinner and then killing the couple. The double homicide too place in April 2013.
According to the report, Thursday’s pre-trial hearing was conducted to resolve any evidence issues between the Chautauqua County District Attorney’s Office and Public Defender Ned Barone – who is representing Coggins. Five individuals testified, including two who were among the first to arrive at Skinner’s home on Wheeler Hill Rd. in the town of Carroll and discovered the grizzly murder scene. The couple was reportedly stabbed multiple times before the home was set on fire.
Coggins is believed to be the leader of the group. In addition to Coggins, three other men were also charged – including 22 year old Joshua McCormick and Ricky Knickerbocker and Steven Todd – both 18 years old at the time of the murders.
Coggins and McCormick are facing two counts of first-degree murder. Because of their age at the time of the incident, Knickerbocker and Todd were each charged with two counts of second-degree murder charge. However, earlier this year, county District Attorney David Foley announced that Todd had accepted a plea deal on two counts of first degree manslaughter and as a result, he will testify against the other defendants.
The next pre-trial hearing for Coggins is scheduled for June 19. His trial is scheduled to begin for Sept. 16, 2014.
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