Last year's investigations are becoming this year's trials.

The first in what will be a string of murder cases begins Monday in Lawrence County Common Pleas Court.

Carlos Jenkins, 39, of 842 County Road 180, is accused of shooting to death John Turvey, 45, of 960 County Road 103 (Ellisonville Ridge Road) at his residence in September 2004.

Jenkins has pleaded not guilty. His family contends Carlos is not capable of killing anyone and had no reason to kill Turvey.

They contend Carlos Jenkins suffers from diminished mental capacity and in his fear of authority and eagerness to please, confessed to a crime he did not commit.

The trial was scheduled for last month but his attorney, David Reid Dillon, asked for a continuance because he said he had obtained evidence that another person is actually responsible for the murder. That person is facing criminal charges in another state.

"We're hoping for our day in court and we hope justice prevails," Dillon said.

Authorities contend however that Jenkins is indeed the killer. They point to the fact that he confessed to the crime, saying Turvey had acted strangely and had tried to pull a gun on him first.

"He said he turned his head but could see out of the corner of his eye that Turvey reached for a rifle. When he (Jenkins) realized he (Turvey) had been shot he panicked and left with the rifle," Lawrence County Sheriff's detective Shane Hanshaw testified during Jenkins' preliminary hearing in Ironton Municipal Court later that same month.

Hanshaw said Jenkins told authorities he may have thrown the rifle over a hill.

The murder weapon has not been found.

Lawrence County Common Pleas Judge Richard Walton will preside over the trial, which is expected to take at least three days.