Attorneys for Madison County man accused in murder-for-hire plot seek to have trial moved
EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. (First Alert 4) - The attorneys for a man accused of paying to have his soon-to-be ex-wife’s girlfriend killed are seeking to have his trial moved.
Sammy J. Shafer Jr. is facing two charges of first-degree murder and two counts of solicitation for murder-for-hire in the shooting death of Portia Rowland in Collinsville.
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Charging documents accuse Shafer of paying $10,000 for Gary D. Johnson and Marty Shaw to kill Rowland, 32. Johnson is the accused gunman, and Shaw reportedly gave him a ride the day of the murder.
Shafer’s lawyers are trying to move the case out of Madison County.
“Due to the volume and the nature of the publicity this case has received, Shafer cannot receive a fair trial in Madison County, Illinois,” read the motion to change venue.
Attorneys T.J. Matthes and Scott Rosenblum, who represent Shafer, stated that they believe the court will be unable to find a fair and impartial jury for the case.
A judge has not yet ruled on the case.
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