Oxford murder hearing grows contentious

OXFORD (WCBI) – An Oxford policeman charged with murder remains jailed while judges and prosecutors wrangle over two legal issues in the case.

Officer Matthew Kinne is charged with murder in the shootIng death of Domingue Clayton. Clayton’s body was found in her Britanny Woods home Sunday afternoon. Investigators say Kinne was involved in a relationship with her and that led them to charge him with Murder Tuesday. A hearing Wednesday became confusing because Judge Andrew Howorth had to decide if Kinne was entitled to a probable cause hearing since he was a policeman. Howorth ruled probable cause case did not exist because the shooting occurred outside of his scope as an officer. A bond hearing was then postponed while the district attorney and Kinnes counsel debated a fair bond amount.

Acting Oxford police chief Jeff McCutchen pulled no punches when asked about the bond question. In a statement McCutchen said “We are frustrated in the issue of bond in this case. There is no reasonable bond amount. Matthew Kinne should not be released. He is a danger to our community and should not be released.”

A date for a new bond hearing has not been set.