Judge grants continuance for murder suspect's hearing
SLIPPERY ROCK — A continuance was granted Wednesday for a man accused of murdering his friend last month in Muddy Creek Township.
Paris E. Carter, 22, of Downingtown, was brought by the Butler County Sheriff's Department to district court for his preliminary hearing before District Judge William O'Donnell.
Carter is charged with the murder of David Hines, 38, of New Castle.
Carter arrived without an attorney and asked for a continuance to apply for a public defender.
O'Donnell agreed to the continuance. The judge also gave Carter an application for the public defender's office before Carter left the courtroom.
“I'm going to give you the application here for you to fill out,” O'Donnell said.
Butler County Chief Public Defender Kevin Flaherty said he had received word that his office may be requested in the case, and he spoke privately with Carter before they approached the bench.
“I'll take (the application) back with me,” Flaherty said.
Carter's new date for a preliminary hearing is scheduled for June 30, and with his representation likely squared away, it is expected a hearing will be either held or waived.
The witness in the case will also have to return June 30 after being present Wednesday.
According to charging documents, there were two other men who were in the vehicle during the May 17 murder.
“While (one of the other men) was driving, an argument ensued between Hines and Carter. Carter then shot Hines,” said the investigating state trooper in the affidavit.
Police said the two other men also left with Carter from the scene of the crime, where a passerby later discovered Hines' body in a still running vehicle, wedged into the hillside along Portersville Road.
On May 26, Carter was arrested in Philadelphia along with a woman, Raylene McDaniels, 24, of Philadelphia. Carter and McDaniels were charged shortly afterward with attempted murder, aggravated assault and hijacking in relation to a shooting that took place May 20 in a Lyft ride in Atlanta.
According to reports from Atlanta news outlets, officers responded to a reported shooting, where a Lyft driver told them one of his clients sitting in the back seat shot a man sitting in the front passenger seat before running away.
