An Adair County grand jury indicted Phillip Bruce Hadley on Friday for murder, a class A felony.
Hadley appeared in Adair County Circuit Court on Tuesday for arraignment.
The charge stems from the Jan. 13 shooting death of his son, Jordan Hadley.
Attorney Jude Hagan said that he and attorney Elmer George would be representing Hadley. Hagan requested that Hadley’s bond be modified.
Commonwealth’s Attorney Brian Wright said that he would be opposed to any bond modification. He said that Judge Michael Loy overruled any modification of the bond during the preliminary hearing in District Court.
“I think the bond is appropriate, if there is a bond to be set at all, which I don’t think he’s entitled to a bond. But if there is one to be set, I will ask that the court continue as set by the District Court,” said Wright.
Wright said that due to the nature of the crime and the crime itself, he did not agree with any change in the current bond of $1 million cash.
Hagan said that Hadley has no prior criminal history and he is presumed innocent at this time.
“Judge, the only two things that should factor into his bond is a danger to the community and his likelihood to return to court,” Hagan said.
He agreed that it was a very serious charge, but he does not think Hadley is any danger to the community as this was a personal conflict between Hadley and his son. Hagan also said that Hadley is a lifelong resident of Adair County and not a flight risk.
“He could post a very substantial property bond if the court would allow,” said Hagan. “He doesn’t have the liquid assets to flee if he wanted to. But his family does have substantial property.”
Wright continued to oppose any amendment to the bond.
“This case involves the death of his own son; he shot him. The District Court heard in the preliminary hearing he shot his son five times including once in the back and once in the back of the head. This is as violent of a crime as the court will encounter,” said Wright.
Hagan said the court has yet to determine how the victim was shot and did not believe the evidence is clear.
“I know what the autopsy showed,” said Wright.
Hagan replied to Wright saying, “That hasn’t been examined by any other of his defense experts but he also raises the issue of self-defense.”
Judge Judy Vance Murphy denied changing the bond at this time. She told Hagan that he could file a formal motion for another bond hearing.
Murphy set a pretrial hearing for Tuesday, April 28 at 9 a.m.
