GEORGETOWN, S.C. — The resignation of a member of the 15th Circuit Solicitor’s Office is causing yet another delay in the death penalty trial of Shane Lawshe, accused in the death of Julianne Blakeley, who died in her Litchfield Beach home Sept. 26, 2007.
The trial was supposed to begin in early February but now will take place late spring, at the earliest.
Fran Humphries, who was a deputy solicitor, retired in December. He was the one in charge of the prosecution of the case.
Solicitor Greg Hembree said extra time is needed to get a new prosecutor ready to handle the case.
He also said defense attorneys had a scheduling conflict with an expert witness in February, so they agreed to the delay.
Hembree said the case may be heard as early as May, but a date has not yet been set.
The trial was supposed to be held in 2009, but a delay was granted when Lawshe’s lawyer, Tommy Brittain of Myrtle Beach, said his side needed more time to collect information that is prudent to an adequate defense.
Lawshe, 35, is charged with raping and killing 63-year-old Blakeley, a mother of quadruplets.
Lawshe knew Blakeley because he had been working in her home as a painter for two weeks prior to the murder.
On the day of Blakeley’s death, Midway Fire Rescue was dispatched to her home after her neighbors called 911 to report that her house was on fire.
Rescue workers quickly discovered that Blakeley's death was not the result of the house fire, but that she was stabbed.
Officials say the assailant set several small fires in the home to conceal the crimes.
Lawshe was arrested the next week in Horry County while he was stopped in traffic because of an open draw bridge.
A motorist behind him recognized Lawshe's car from reports and called 911.
By Scott Harper
sharper@gtowntimes.com