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Motion hearings delayed in manslaughter case

Christina M. Currie

A hearing on motions to suppress evidence and change venue in a Moffat County manslaughter case has been continued.

Luree Highpines Nelums, 44, has been charged with manslaughter after her husband, Gordon Ray Nelums, 48, was found stabbed in the femoral artery of his left thigh in a room at the Colorado Inn motel in Craig June 11. She is being held in the Moffat County Jail on $50,000 bond.

In November, defense attorney Kristopher Hammond filed a motion to suppress evidence because he believes damaging statements made by Nelums were illegally obtained. He also filed a motion asking 14th Judicial District Court Judge Joel Thompson to change the location of the trial because Hammond believes pretrial publicity has influenced the potential pool of jurors and that Nelums could not get a fair trail because of the publicity.



Both motions were scheduled to be heard Monday, but were delayed at Hammond’s request. According to Hammond, the prosecution has not produced all the discovery materials requested. The venue change request has also been postponed because the results of the evidence suppression hearing may impact that motion.

Hearings on the motions are set for 3 p.m. Jan. 3 at Moffat County Courthouse.


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