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Murder trial pushed to Feb. 22 due to amount of materials

LISBON — The trial for a Wellsville man charged with aggravated murder in the May 2021 shooting death of Dion McMillon has been pushed to 9 a.m. Feb. 22.

Tyrell M. Travers, 25, Clover Avenue, appeared before Columbiana County Common Pleas Court Judge Megan Bickerton Friday morning for a status hearing in preparation for a trial that had been set for Sept. 27.

Both Columbiana County Chief Assistant Prosecutor Ryan Weikart and defense attorney Walter Madison entered a joint motion for a continuance, to cancel the upcoming trial date and set new dates.

Weikart said given the voluminous nature of the materials provided and other potential issues, he thought it was better to ask now for a continuance rather than wait until closer to the end of the month.

“We’re very confidant we’re going to continue to talk in this matter,” he said.

Madison said he spoke to his client and he had no problem with moving the trial date.

An interim status conference is now scheduled for 11 a.m. Dec. 2, with a final status hearing set for 11 a.m. Feb. 6. Bickerton said she wants all motions filed by that date.

At a previous hearing, there had been some questions about a hard drive that had been sent to Madison by the prosecution.

Travers remains jailed in the county lockup on a $1 million cash or surety bond.

Besides the unclassified felony of aggravated murder, Travers was indicted on charges of murder, also an unclassified felony, and tampering with evidence, a third-degree felony. The unclassified felonies could lead to a 15 years to life sentence if convicted and those two charges also include a firearms specification, which could lead to an additional three years. The tampering with evidence charge also carries a possible three-year term.

McMillon, 26, was found dead in his car from an apparent shooting while the car was parked near Virginia and Mapletree streets in East Liverpool over a year ago. Travers was arrested in Hancock County, W.Va. in January shortly after the indictment was issued.

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