Artesia primarily covers court stories, but she also writes extensively about crime.
The man who prosecutors say is responsible for the 2021 murder of businessman Leon Griffin denied the allegation at his arraignment on Friday.
Demargio Lockhart, otherwise known as “Toons”, is charged with Griffin’s murder and conspiring with others to commit the crime.
Lockhart is accused of gunning down Griffin, husband of former Progressive Liberal Party Cabinet minister Melanie Griffin, in front of their home in Winton Meadows on December 23, 2021.
He was arraigned via video link from the remand center at the prison.
Senior Justice Bernard Turner will preside over his trial and will schedule a trial date on March 28.
Lockhart made his initial appearance in the Magistrate’s Court on January 17, 2022 on the murder charge.
Proceedings against him in the lower court were formally brought to an end when he was presented with a voluntary bill of indictment in February 2023 when he appeared before Chief Magistrate Joyann Ferguson-Pratt.
