Four inmates charged with killing a fellow prisoner were each assigned attorneys Friday who are qualified to represent clients in death-penalty cases.
Two weeks ago, prosecutors would not say whether they would seek the death penalty against the four inmates. But from Friday's appointments, that appears to be their intent.The attorneys, who made their first appearances, also learned that the Central Utah Correctional Facility has a videotape of the July 6 incident when Lonnie Blackmon was attacked and stabbed more than 50 times.
Sixth District Judge Don Tibbs instructed the prison to make arrangements for the attorneys to view or obtain copies of the videotape. It is not known how much of the stabbing is depicted in the video, however.
Tibbs also set a preliminary hearing date for Sept. 22-23 inside the Gunnison facility. Each of the four inmates is charged with capital murder and if convicted could be sentenced to death, life in prison without parole or life in prison with the possibility of parole.
The courtroom will be filled with attorneys on those days. Each defendant has been appointed two defense attorneys, and at least three attorneys will prosecute the case.
Edward Brass was assigned to represent Paul Richard Payne, 20; Ken Brown will represent John Fredrick Cannistraci, 25; Stephen McCaughey was assigned to represent Troy Michael Kell, 26; and Milton Harmon will represent Eric Thomas Daniels, 24.
Brass, Brown and McCaughey are Salt Lake attorneys and Harmon is from Nephi. Each is qualified by law to handle capital murder cases. Three Richfield attorneys and one from Ephraim were assigned to assist them. By their participation in a capital murder trial, the central Utah attorneys could become qualified to handle future death-penalty cases.
That could save money for central Utah communities that now have to pay qualified attorneys to travel from Salt Lake City and other areas of the state to handle capital murder cases.
Sanpete County Attorney Ross Blackham will prosecute the case with Scott Reed and Harry Souvall of the Utah attorney general's office.
Blackmon, Kell and another inmate were being escorted in handcuffs to the infirmary by an unarmed officer on July 6 when the killing occurred. Investigators believe someone may have slipped Kell a homemade knife and a key to his handcuffs.
Kell allegedly unlocked his right hand and began swinging the knife at Blackmon. As the officer ran to get help, Blackmon and the two men struggled. Blackmon was pushed against bars in the shower area, where two other men held him and another stabbed him numerous times and cut his throat, investigators say.
Kell is accused of stabbing Blackmon, but it is unclear what role the others are accused of playing.