CHARLESTON, W.Va. — A man accused of murdering a 15 year old boy in Charleston won’t have his day in court until next year.
Kanawha County Circuit Judge Charlie King rescheduled the trial of William Pulliam for Jan. 29. He was supposed to go on trial Dec. 11.
Pulliam, 62, is charged with first degree murder and felony use of a firearm in connection with the death of James Means. The boy was shot and killed on Charleston’s East End in Nov. 2016.
This is the second time Pulliam’s trial was postponed. His initial trial was supposed to start in August, but was pushed back to December in order to allow more preparation time for his attorney Richard Hollicker.
On Monday, both the defense and prosecution were granted a joint continuance.
Kanawha County Assistant Prosecutor Don Morris said the state Medical Examiner will be out of town the week the trial was supposed to start and that they will need him to testify.
“He is a crucial witness to the state, conducted the autopsy and we anticipate he’ll be testifying in this matter,” Morris said.
Hollicker told the judge he needs more time for Pulliam to be evaluated for competency.
“Until this morning I thought we were probably going to be objecting to the state’s motion, but something occurred that is a matter of privilege that leads me to believe that I need to have my client evaluated for competency, so we’re not objecting to the state’s motion,” he said.
Results will indicate whether Pulliam is competent to stand trial.
The shooting happened outside the Dollar General Store, just a few blocks from the state Capitol. Pulliam claims he acted in self defense, but prosecutors argue Means was shot multiple times as he tried to run away from Pulliam. Pulliam allegedly told police “another piece of trash is off the street” following the incident.
Detectives previously said Means kept a BB-gun in his waistband that resembled a hand gun. It was later found in a bag. Pulliam is accused of telling the boy before he shot him, “That toy gun is going to get you f-ing killed.”
Pulliam is currently being held without bail in the South Central Regional Jail.