(TNS) A judge on Wednesday denied a pair of motions filed by a former Eastern Kentucky sheriff accused of killing a district judge last year.

Special Judge Christopher T. Cohron declined to dismiss a murder indictment against Shawn Stines, 44, who was captured on video shooting and killing Judge Kevin Mullins on Sept. 19, 2024, inside the judge’s chambers.

In the rulings, released Thursday, Cohron also denied Stines’ lawyer’s request to unseal his client’s mental health evaluation, which the lawyer argued would help prove Stines was in extreme emotional distress at the time of the shooting.

Stines’ lawyer, Jeremy Bartley, has said his client’s defense will center on an insanity or emotional disturbance claim.

Cohron did grant Bartley’s request for a hearing to determine if Stines shoul

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