LONOKE — A Lonoke County circuit judge granted a continuation to defense attorneys in the trial of a man charged with capital murder in the death of a Cabot pawnshop owner.
The trial for David Derreberry, 37, of Greenbrier was to start Monday, but both the prosecuting attorney’s office and the defense requested a continuance.
Circuit Judge Sandy Huckabee scheduled a status update hearing Jan. 17, at which time a new trial date will be set.
Derreberry, along with his wife, Jaclyn Derreberry, 31, were charged in connection with the death of Billy Joe Pipkin, 60, who was found shot to death inside KBC Pawn by fire crews responding to an April 4 blaze at his business.
David Derreberry is charged with capital murder, aggravated robbery, arson, theft of property, theft of a firearm and committing a felony with a firearm.
Prosecuting attorney Chuck Graham offered Derreberry a plea deal of life in prison without parole, but Derreberry has turned down the offer. Graham has said if the case goes to trial, he will seek the death penalty.
Jaclyn Derreberry pleaded guilty in September to hindering apprehension or prosecution, theft by receiving, theft by receiving a firearm and criminal use or laundering of proceeds from stolen items.
Under the deal, she was sentenced to 20 years in prison with six years of the sentence suspended. She had been facing a maximum sentence of 60 years in prison.
Prosecutors have accused David Derreberry of shooting Pipkin during a robbery of the pawnshop, then setting the business on fire.
Pipkin was killed on the 34th anniversary of the death of his father, Beebe police officer Abe Pipkin, who was killed after interrupting a drugstore robbery.
Arkansas, Pages 9 on 10/25/2011