MAYVILLE – The first-degree murder trial of David Coggins scheduled to begin next week in Chautauqua County Court has been postponed until September, according to District Attorney David W. Foley.
Coggins, 34, will be tried separately from the other defendants, according to Foley. He said the separation was agreed to this week by his office and by Public Defender Nathanial Barone, who will represent Coggins.
Coggins is one of four men charged in the deaths of Gordon and Joyce Skinner, who were found murdered in their home in Frewsburg. The couple had reportedly been tortured and their home was set on fire in the incident. A motive for the attack has not been disclosed. All four men were apprehended after neighbors provided police with information about a suspicious vehicle on the Skinner’s property.
Coggins and Joshua McCormick, 21, of Elmira have been charged with first-degree murder and other counts after a Chautauqua County Grand Jury handed up the indictments this April.
The other two charged are Ricky Knickerbocker and Steven Todd. Both were age 18 at the time of the indictment. The district attorney said that due to their age, they could not be charged with first-degree murder. They were charged with second-degree murder and other charges.
All four men will also face charges of two counts of second-degree murder, two counts of second-degree felony murder, one count of first-degree arson, two counts of first-degree burglary, second-degree arson, second-degree burglary and fourth-degree conspiracy.
Coggins is being held at Chautauqua County Jail in Mayville.
Coggins, 34, will be tried separately from the other defendants, according to Foley. He said the separation was agreed to this week by his office and by Public Defender Nathanial Barone, who will represent Coggins.
Coggins is one of four men charged in the deaths of Gordon and Joyce Skinner, who were found murdered in their home in Frewsburg. The couple had reportedly been tortured and their home was set on fire in the incident. A motive for the attack has not been disclosed. All four men were apprehended after neighbors provided police with information about a suspicious vehicle on the Skinner’s property.
Coggins and Joshua McCormick, 21, of Elmira have been charged with first-degree murder and other counts after a Chautauqua County Grand Jury handed up the indictments this April.
The other two charged are Ricky Knickerbocker and Steven Todd. Both were age 18 at the time of the indictment. The district attorney said that due to their age, they could not be charged with first-degree murder. They were charged with second-degree murder and other charges.
All four men will also face charges of two counts of second-degree murder, two counts of second-degree felony murder, one count of first-degree arson, two counts of first-degree burglary, second-degree arson, second-degree burglary and fourth-degree conspiracy.
Coggins is being held at Chautauqua County Jail in Mayville.