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A witness must testify in a West Virginia man’s murder trial before possibly marrying him

By: Associated Press
Posted on: Wednesday, January 24, 2024

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HUNTINGTON, W.Va. (AP) — A West Virginia facing a murder trial after being charged with killing his infant daughter has expressed interest in marrying a witness in his case, leading a judge to order that the woman testify during an evidentiary hearing before any nuptials can take place.

Cabell County Circuit Court Judge Paul Farrell issued the ruling Tuesday in the murder trial of Shannon Overstreet, who is also charged with child abuse and concealment in relation to the disappearance of his daughter, Angel, WCHS-TV reported.

Special prosecutor Philip Morrison said in his request for the deposition that phone calls intercepted at the West Virginia facility where Overstreet is being held suggest he was interested in marrying a key witness, which could exclude her from having to testify against him. Defense attorney Kerry Nessel said he had no argument against it and the judge granted the request.

Overstreet was indicted in December in the death of his daughter, who has been missing for more than two years. The girl was 3 months old when she last was seen in May 2021.