Judge denies trial move for man accused in slaying of missionary

CHESAPEAKE, Va. — The Oct. 31 trial of a man accused of killing a Mormon missionary and wounding another will remain in Chesapeake, a judge has decided.

Attorneys for James R. Boughton Jr., 19, had asked a Circuit Court judge for a change of venue, arguing that their client cannot receive a fair trial in the region because of media reports. Prosecutors disagreed.

Judge Frederick Creekmore ruled that the defense had not shown that any reports were inaccurate or intemperate.

"Further, defendant has not shown the existence of such widespread feeling of prejudice among the citizenry as would prevent a fair trial," the judge wrote.

Boughton is charged in the Jan. 2 fatal shooting of 21-year-old Morgan W. Young of Bountiful, Utah, and the wounding of Joshua Heidbrink, 19, of Greeley, Colo.

Heidbrink testified at a hearing in June that he and Young were going door-to-door evangelizing when they heard a shot and saw a man running toward them. The man shot him, then he saw Young on his knees looking up at the shooter, heard a pop, then saw Young fall forward. He did not identify the shooter at the hearing.