News

Actions

Man to stand trial in 1988 fatal shooting in Van Buren Co.

Posted at 7:26 AM, Mar 06, 2016
and last updated 2016-03-06 07:26:16-05

SOUTH HAVEN, Mich. (AP) — A 49-year-old man who was a witness for prosecutors and had immunity for his testimony in a 1988 southwestern Michigan murder case will stand trial in the killing.

A Van Buren County judge on Friday bound Guy Simpson over for trial on an open murder charge in the slaying of 22-year-old Charles Paul Miller of Bangor.

Authorities say Simpson was one of three men who lured Miller into a marijuana field in Allegan County’s Lee Township, shot him in the back of the head because of a drug debt and buried his body. Arrests first were made in the case in 2000.

The Herald-Palladium of St. Joseph reports that another defendant, Junior Fred Blackston, will stand trial in May after appealing two earlier convictions in the case.