Murder trial continued again due to COVID-19 | Journal-news

MARTINSBURG — A murder trial set to begin after the first of the new year has been continued once again due to issues with COVID-19.

Robert Landis Kramerage, 38, of Kearneysville, who is facing multiple felony charges for the March 9 murder of 34-year-old Joshua Case, has tested positive for the coronavirus as shared by his attorney in a hearing Wednesday after receiving a medical report from the jail.

According to defense attorney Craig Manford, Kramerage was tested on Dec. and a positive test was returned Dec. 27.

As of Monday afternoon, as previously reported by The Journal, the Eastern Regional Jail had 268 active cases among the population of 522.

“Out of an abundance of caution for all involved,” 23rd Judicial Circuit Court Judge Bridgett Cohee set a new trial date for Feb. 24 with a pretrial scheduled for Feb. 8.

Kramerage is facing charges of murder, burglary, first-degree robbery, conspiracy to commit robbery, conspiracy to commit burglary and unlawful possession of a firearm.

The previously scheduled Jan. 6 trial date was scheduled after multiple individuals on the witness list had tested positive for COVID-19.

Berkeley County Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Joseph Kinser said despite one of the state’s witnesses testing positive for COVID-19, they would still be prepared to proceed Wednesday if the court ordered without that witness. Kinser also acknowledged two additional witnesses had been in contact with this individual and are being quarantined at this time.

Cohee again accepted this continuance for the public’s best interest. The court expects to call 60 jurors to potentially hear the case.

Michael Phillip Browning, 46, of Kearneysville, and Christopher Duane Jackson, 42, of Harpers Ferry, were also charged with murder, burglary, first-degree robbery, conspiracy to commit robbery and conspiracy to commit burglary in this case. Browning was also charged with felon in possession of a firearm.

Currently, Jackson is set for a separate trial on March 3. In the case of Browning, a plea agreement is being considered by the court pending a pre-sentence investigation report, and he is scheduled for a sentencing hearing for Jan. 11.

In the afternoon of March 9, according to a female witness, two men believed to be Kramerage and Browning allegedly were allowed to enter the home; however, one male was displaying a semi-automatic handgun in his right hand and the second male was described as displaying a small “western” type of gun, court records said.

The two men entered the room and said “to give them the drugs and money and this will go smoothly,” the documents said. As the two men began to look for additional drugs, Case allegedly “lunged at the one thinner male,” court documents stated.

Allegedly, Case was hit with the butt of a pistol and then a shot was fired. The fight continued when a second bullet was allegedly fired. The two men then allegedly fled the scene.

According to the investigation, it is alleged that Kramerage fired the fatal gunshot wound to the chest of the victim. Browning is alleged to be the other male who entered the home, and Jackson allegedly arranged the robbery.

All three defendants remain incarcerated at this time, court records show.

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