PIKEVILLE, KY.-The man charged in the murder of Pikeville Police Officer Scotty Hamilton appeared in Pike District Court today for arraignment.

55-year old John Russell Hall was assisted into the courtroom shackled in chains. Court appointed attorney, Emma Jones, entered a not guilty plea for Hall, made a motion to preserve all evidence and requested Hall be given a bond. However, County Attorney Howard Keith Hall recommended that he be held without bond. District Judge Kelsey Friend Jr. sided with the prosecution and denied bond. After the arraignment, the county attorney said knowing that John Russell Hall would not be back on the streets was not only a relief to the community, but to him as well.

“All of us were scared. Prosecutors were scared as much as the general public. You never know who he is going to blame for his problems. This guy will never see daylight is what I am hoping. Everyone that I talk to in this community wants Johnny Hall dead. The entire county does. I can’t find one person that doesn’t. A lot of people want worse than that, but I don’t think the law allows for worse than that. That’s what the general feelings are in the community and I don’t see it ever changing.”

Hall went on to say that although a preliminary hearing was set for Thursday, he expects the Grand Jury to meet before then and return in an indictment. If that happens, the hearing will be canceled and the case will move directly to circuit court.

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