Murder trial slated for January
By Staff
Aug 27, 2010, 14:32
RICHMOND — A trial date has been set for accused murderer Michael Solomon.
Solomon, a Hopewell High School graduate who split time between family in Hopewell and the apartment he shared in Richmond with former girlfriend Tameka Claiborne, faces a three-day trial beginning Jan. 10, 2011 in Richmond Circuit Court.
Commonwealth's prosecuting attorney Michael N. Herring reportedly told Judge Margaret P. Spencer he would need more than a day to present his evidence against Solomon in the case during a hearing on Tuesday.
Richmond police allege that Solomon, 28, fatally stabbed Claiborne in late July days after abducting her 3-year-old son, Malik Ellison.
Ellison was found unharmed wandering around a Chesterfield County apartment complex on Tuesday, July 20 — the day his 27-year-old mother disappeared.
Richmond police led a multi-jurisdictional three-day search for Claiborne; Solomon, accompanied by Hopewell-based defense attorney Mary K. Martin, turned himself in to law enforcement officers on outstanding charges the day before Claiborne's body was discovered.
Police say Solomon had help disposing of Claiborne's body; Alphonzo Lamont Richardson, 32, of Petersburg and 27-year-old Darren Fenceroy of Prince George County face one misdemeanor count each of accessory after the fact in commission of Claiborne's murder.
A chimney sweep found Claiborne's body along the north bank of the James River in Charles City County July 23.
Police say the couple had been arguing about money; Family members of the victim and the defendant have expressed shock and disbelief over Claiborne's murder.
Solomon's lawyers will appear in Court a pre-trial motions hearing in October.
