Nelson County Judge Charles Simms will consider several motions during the hearing. Here's what to know.
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Here's an updated list of motions expected to be heard:
- Change of Venue – All three men are requesting the trial is moved from Nelson County.
- Charges dismissed – Steve Lawson wants his charges dropped, here's why.
- Disclosure of identity of expert witnesses – Joseph Lawson’s attorney has requested prosecutors reveal the names and testimony that will be provided by experts at trial.
- Combining the trial – Special Prosecutor Shane Young wants to combine next year's trial for all three men, but Houck's attorney argues the trials should not be combined.
The hearing will begin at 1 p.m. on Thursday, March 21.
Live updates
1.19 p.m.
Court has adjourned.
1:18 p.m.
Another hearing has been scheduled for May 1 at 1 p.m. to review if attorneys have chosen the new venue for trial.
1:13 p.m.
Lavit said there "may" be the need for another hearing to discuss evidence about promised immunity in Steven Lawson's motion to dismiss charges. Expected to happen in June.
1:10 p.m.
Young said attorneys should have a location chosen within a month. The ruling of combining trials will come later as Young plans to respond to Butler's motion not to combine the trial and each suspect plans to file a response to that.
1:09 p.m.
Young agrees with the defense, the trial should be moved out of Nelson County.
1:08 p.m.
Discovery has been completed by prosecutors. Young clarifies there was 276GB of remaining evidence turned over, not a terabyte as he mentioned during the last hearing. Two interviews are missing, however, which will be turned over in the next two to three months, he said.
1:07 p.m.
Judge Charles Simms has entered the room, the hearing has begun. Joseph Lawson is appearing over Zoom from jail.
1:06 p.m.
Special Prosecutor Shane Young, Steven Lawson's attorney, Ted Lavit, and Brooks Houck's attorney Brian Butler have entered the courtroom.
1:00 p.m.
The courtroom is silent as both Lawson and Houck sit in the Nelson County courtroom. Neither suspect's attorneys have entered the room yet.
12:58 p.m.
Brooks Houck has entered the courtroom.
12:57 p.m
Steven Lawson has entered the courtroom.
12:51 p.m.
Brooks Houck's family, including his mother Rosemary, have entered the courtroom.
12:45 p.m.
Courtroom doors have opened for the community.
12:43 p.m.
Crystal's mother, Sherry Ballard, has entered the courthouse lobby. She's joined by more family members.
12:31 p.m.
A team of attorneys representing Brooks Houck have entered the courtroom.
12:26 p.m.
It's unknown if all three men will appear for the hearing in person. At February's hearing, court was delayed nearly 40 minutes as deputies brought Joseph Lawson to the courthouse.
12:16 p.m.
Doors to the courtroom have not open yet, but the media and community are starting to enter the building. Crystal's grandparents, Till and Betty Ballard, are in attendance.