Scopus, Mo., murder case to be tried before St. Louis County jury

A Bollinger County murder case is going be tried in St. Louis County.

Lisa A. Barlow is accused of shooting to death Michael Strong, her boyfriend at the time, in his Scopus, Mo., residence July 27.

Barlow's attorneys requested the change of venue Oct. 4 because of media coverage of the case, but reached an agreement with Prosecuting Attorney Stephen Gray and Circuit Judge William L. Syler Friday morning.

"Our primary concern is that Ms. Barlow is given a fair trial," said public defender Amy Metzinger.

The prosecution suggested relocating the case to Farmington or Poplar Bluff, but Metzinger objected to those areas because they are both within the KFVS12 coverage area.

"I don't believe people in Butler County are going to pay so much attention to a Bollinger County story a year from now," Gray said.

Gray said he wanted to avoid importing a jury to the 32nd Judicial Circuit, which encompasses Cape Girardeau, Perry and Bollinger counties, from another area. The cost of room and board for an imported jury would have fallen on Bollinger County.

The defense requested St. Charles County as the location for the trial because it was sufficiently out of the Southeast Missourian and KFVS12 coverage region, but Syler recommended St. Louis because of the shorter commute for the attorneys and the greater ease in finding accommodations.

Syler said he couldn't recall ever trying a murder case in Southeast Missouri in the same county where it occurred.

At the defense's request, Syler will remain the trial judge for the case, and slated summer of 2008 for the trial to begin in St. Louis.

In the meantime, Barlow will stay at the Cape Girardeau County Jail on a $500,000 cash-only bond.

bdicosmo@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 245