Scopus murder trial set for Sept. 8

The St. Louis County Circuit Court has set a tentative trial date of Sept. 8 for the murder trial of Lisa A. Barlow but has not yet secured a courtroom where Cape Girardeau County Circuit Judge William Syler can hear the case, according to St. Louis County judicial administrator Paul Fox.

Barlow, 43, is accused of killing her boyfriend, Michael Strong, with his gun while he lay on the sofa at the Scopus, Mo., residence they shared.

Strong was shot to death July 27.

The case was moved to St. Louis from Bollinger County on a change of venue last fall, but Syler agreed to remain the trial judge at the request of the defense.

The Missouri Court of Appeals recently ruled to uphold a decision from the lower courts denying motions to disqualify Syler. Bollinger County Prosecuting Attorney Stephen P. Gray filed two motions for a change of judge; both were denied on the grounds that the request was not filed in a timely fashion.

The case is in the discovery, or disclosure, phase, where the defense is taking depositions from the state's witnesses, Gray said.

The victim's family has been understanding of the lengthy legal process, Gray said.

"There's not a day in this world that I don't wake up and Mike's not the thing I think of," Michael Strong's brother Matt said Thursday.

Matt Strong said the waiting has been rough on the whole family.

Michael Strong's mother, Earnestine, said, "I just want it to be over with and get it behind us. Dealing with my son's death has been difficult enough."

Matt Strong has organized his brother's annual "Turtlefest" charity trail ride, set for May 17 in Scopus.

The tradition was started years ago, the family said.

"A lot of time, he'd do it for someone who was sick, who maybe had cancer, or one time a woman had lost everything she owned to a house fire, but most years he'd donate the money to St. Jude's," Matt Strong said about the charity ride.

The family expects a good turnout this year, he said. There is no charge to join the ride, but anyone who wishes to donate may do so. Proceeds will go to St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital, Matt Strong said.

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