The murder trial was delayed Monday for the Fort Smith murder suspect accused of slashing two men to death with a machete in June.
The murder trial of Gregory Aaron Kinsey, 20, was set to begin Feb. 10, 2014, in Sebastian County Circuit Court. Judge Steven Tabor granted the defense’s request for a delay in the case because Kinsey’s attorneys need more time to prepare, they told the judge Monday.
Kinsey’s trial was moved to Nov. 17, 2014, with jury selection set to take place Nov. 13 and 14.
County prosecutor Daniel Shue announced in August he would be seeking the death penalty in the case. Kinsey is accused of attacking and killing two men, Nathan Young and Brandon Prince, with a machete in Fort Smith on June 26. Kinsey is charged with two counts of capital murder.
He remains in the Sebastian County Detention Center without bond.
In a letter to the circuit clerk’s office announcing his intentions, Shue states the sufficiency of the evidence linking the defendant to the offense, the seriousness of the offense, the defendant’s culpability, and the defendant’s criminal record as factors in why he feels the death penalty is appropriate.
According to court documents, Kinsey said he was walking back from the Dollar Store when he was confronted by three people. Kinsey and the victims exchanged words and Kinsey pulled out a machete to warn them, the documents state.
Kinsey told police he didn’t think the men would let him go so he started swinging the machete, striking and killing two of them.
“The death penalty is definitely what needs to be done,” said Pamela Hearne, whose son Prince, was killed in the attack. “He killed my son, he killed Nate, and it just kills me. I mean I don’t sleep at night.”
Prince and Young were with Maynard on June 26 during the attack. Maynard is the only survivor.
“I just try not to relive it,” Maynard said. “Nothing’s going to bring my friends back. So I mean I have rough nights and rough days. I just try to cope with it as best as I can.”
Maynard says he feels the death penalty is appropriate in this case.
“To have a massacre done like that to me, I really hope he does have justice served.”
