Hearing postponed in home invasion that killed couple

FREWSBURG – A pre-trial hearing for the four men charged in the death of Gordon and Joyce Skinner that had been scheduled for today was postponed until Friday and the venue has been changed, officials said.

Davide Coggins, 34, no address listed, and Ricky Knickerbocker, 18, Steven Todd, 18 and Joshua McCormick 21, all of Elmira, have been charged with two counts each of second-degree murder. They had been scheduled to appear today in Town of Carroll Court in Frewsburg. But that appearance has been switched to 9:30 a.m. Friday in Chautauqua County Court in Mayville.

District Attorney David W. Foley said he could not reveal the reason for the change in location but he expects to be able to address questions later on Friday.

The four were picked up in Elmira in the early-morning hours of April 18 after a swift investigation into the death of the couple. The Skinners were both found inside their burning house after a home invasion.

The four were arraigned later that day by Willard W. Cass Jr., Town of Carroll justice. Coggins was granted a public defender and the other three will be given assigned counsel, according to Foley.