Michael Younger, left, recently re-indicted on charges stemming from the 1999 Valentine’s Day triple slaying in Cleveland, Tenn., sits with investigator Jack Lakin, who works for defense attorney Susan Shipley, in Bradley County Criminal Court on Tuesday.CLEVELAND, Tenn. – Special Judge Jon Kerry Blackwood will consider motions made to dismiss charges stemming from a March 2014 re-indictment of Michael Younger, a suspect in the 1999 Valentine’s Day triple slaying here.
On Tuesday, Susan Shipley, Younger’s attorney, argued the new charges should be dropped in light of due-process violations caused by conflicts of interest with former prosecutor Richard Fisher and other members of the 10th Judicial District Attorney’s Office.
“Clearly, his [Fisher’s] actions were tainted because he had an interest in vindicating his own personal and professional reputation when he presented the case,” Shipley said.
In June, Blackwood granted Shipley’s motion to recuse Fisher based on those conflicts of interest.
Younger and co-defendants Twanna “Tart” Blair and Maurice Johnson were accused of killing Dawn Rogers, Cayci Higgins and Orienthal “O.J.” Blair. The victims were found shot execution-style in a Cleveland apartment.