Oral arguments will be heard next month in the case of a convicted killer who claims that his initial public defender provided ineffective counsel.
The initial hearing was postponed after newly appointed attorney, Brad Junge of Grand Junction, failed to appear on April 15. Set last week, the hearing was rescheduled for June 22.
Saying that he was bothered that Junge failed to appear last month, Chief District Court Judge Doug Walker is expected to decide if case files currently held by the original public defender should be turned over to Junge.
Luther Hampson, 30, is currently serving a 25-year prison sentence after pleading guilty to second-degree murder in the death of 27-year-old Jonathan Hayes of Dolores in January 2012.
According to court records, Hayes sustained six blunt force impacts to the face and his throat was sliced with a razor blade. Medical records indicate he died a slow death after being left for dead off County Road T. The murder weapon was never recovered.
Currently imprisoned at the Freemont Correctional Facility near Canon City, Hampson will become eligible for parole in 2029. His estimated release date is 2036.
In addition to arguing ineffective counsel, Hampson has also filed requests with the court to withdraw his guilty plea as well as a petition for post-conviction relief.
tbaker@cortezjournal.com