Jesse Ray Mathews, who is accused of shooting and killing Chattanooga police Sgt. Tim Chapin during a botched robbery, leaves the courtroom after appearing before Judge Barry Steelman.A Hamilton County Criminal Court judge has moved a hearing date to Oct. 11 for a 26-year-old man accused of killing a local police sergeant.
Prosecutors seeking the death penalty for Jesse Ray Mathews, 26, requested more time as they await results from laboratory tests of evidence in the shooting death of Chattanooga police Sgt. Tim Chapin. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation is doing the testing.
Judge Barry Steelman agreed Tuesday to push back the hearing date but also said he likely will set a trial date for Mathews at the hearing.
District Attorney Bill Cox told Steelman that he and Mathews’ attorneys had exchanged information in the process known as “discovery” and that the reports are expected within the next 60 days.
During the 10-minute hearing, Steelman checked with Lee Davis and Bryan Hoss, Mathews’ defense team, and the prosecutors to ensure that preparations for a possible trial were on schedule.