PRESTONSBURG, Ky. — The judge presiding over the Amber Spradlin murder case is pointing out a conflict of interest between attorneys representing two of the defendants.

Special Judge Eddy Coleman issued an order Wednesday, directing Randall O’Neal, who is one of the attorneys representing M.K. McKinney, and Whitney O’Neal, who represents Josh Mullins.

McKinney is charged with murder for the 2023 stabbing death of Spradlin, while McKinney, Mullins and McKinney’s father, Michael McKinney, also face multiple counts of evidence tampering for allegedly trying to cover up the crime.

Randall and Whitney O’Neal are partners in the O’Neal Law Office out of Richmond and are also married to each other.

Attorneys for M.K. McKinney have consistently objected to attempts to further postpone the trial, while Whitney O’Neal and Michael McKinney’s attorney have said their clients could benefit from a delay.

The fact that the O’Neals work in the same law office and represent clients in the same case who have competing interests about when the case goes to trial poses a problem, Judge Coleman says in his order.

Under Kentucky Rules of Criminal Procedure, they are required to explain the significance of that conflict to their clients and then either step down from the case or produce waivers signed by each defendant allowing them to continue to represent them.

The O’Neals have until a hearing scheduled for Monday to comply with the order.

That hearing will consider a number of pretrial motions, including the motion to further postpone the trial. If no further delay is granted, jury selection will begin on Tuesday.

A copy of the judge’s order follows: