By Shavonne Potts
spotts@salisburypost.com
Rowan District Attorney Bill Kenerly says he will pursue the death penalty for Christopher Boyd and not for Jonathan Barnett, both of whom are accused of killing Salisbury dentist Dr. James David Boyd.
The two men appeared in Superior Court Monday for a rule-24 hearing to determine if the prosecutor would seek the death penalty.
Kenerly said similar statements last week when he did not pursue the death penalty against co-defendant Candice Jo Drye, 23.
He told visiting Superior Court Judge James E. Hardin Jr., of Durham, even though he felt there were enough aggravating factors to seek the death penalty against Barnett, he would not.
All three are said to have gone into the dentist’s home. He was found June 26 strangled and tied.
Both Christopher Boyd, 21, and Barnett, 18, stood with their attorneys and pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder, first-degree burglary, felonious larceny and armed robbery.
See Tuesday’s Post for more details.