Opening Arguments In Easterling Murder Trial To Start Tuesday

Robert Moore

Herald Staff

rmoore@harrodsburgherald.com

UPDATE: (Monday, Feb. 19) Court officials are saying the jury has been selected for the Trenton Easterling trial. Opening arguments will begin tomorrow morning at Mercer County Judicial Center.

Easterling was arrested and charged with murdering and robbing Tristan Cole nearly two years ago.

Cole, a 17-year-old student at Mercer County Senior High School, was found shot to death near a vacant barn on Deep Creek Road on April 12, 2016.

Easterling is accused of Cole’s murder and 1st-degree robbery.

Commonwealth’s Attorney Richard Bottoms said he’s confident about his case. But he will be going into the courtroom without one key piece of evidence: the answers Easterling gave during his initial police interrogation.

The recorded testimony was ruled inadmissable by Circuit Court Judge Darren Peckler after it was determined neither Easterling, who was then 16 years old, nor his mother, Melissa Easterling, had signed a formal waiver before the interrogation.

Easterling turned 18 while in custody. He is being prosecuted as an adult.

Easterling will be defended by Danville attorney Ephraim Helton of Helton, Walter and Noelker.

Two other classmates of Tristan Cole, Meagan Sims and Zachary Lay, were arrested and charged with tampering with physical evidence connected to the murder. Both Sims and Lay will testify for the prosecution, Bottoms said. Lay, who was sentenced to five years at Grayson County Jail for tampering with physical evidence, 1st-degree possession of cocaine and 1st-degree wanton endangerment, was moved to Boyle County Detention Center before the trial. 

The prosecution against Sims, who has changed counsel, is still ongoing.

The Harrodsburg Herald will be posting daily live updates on the trial on this website.