Lawshe rape/murder trial postponed until 2010
Last Updated on 3/16/2010
Published on 6/25/2009
By Scott Harper
sharper@gtowntimes.com
The death penalty trial of accused murderer and rapist Shane Lawshe has been delayed for the third time and will not take place this year.
The trial was supposed to take place in July -- after being postponed from March -- in Georgetown County's new courthouse, set to open Wednesday.
Lawshe's attorney, Tommy Brittain of Myrtle Beach, said Thursday a judge has granted a request that the trial be delayed so his side can collect information that is prudent to an adequate defense.
No new trial date has been set but it will be sometime in 2010, he said.
Lawshe is charged with the 2007 rape and murder of Litchfield Beach resident, 63-year-old Julianne 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 Sept. 26, 2007, Midway Fire Rescue was dispatched to 244 Norris Drive in South Litchfield after Blakeley's 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.
Solicitor Greg Hembree said there is "evidence to indicate criminal sexual conduct occurred."
Officials believe Lawshe set several small fires in the home to conceal his crimes.
He 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 and calleed 911.
