C-Murder Second Trial Date Set, New Judge Presiding

C-Murder (real name Corey Miller), 37, was charged for second-degree murder and convicted in 2003 after fatally shooting 16-year-old Steve Thomas at a Louisiana night club on January 12, 2002. After a series of hearings, the conviction was overturned by State Judge Martha Sassone. Sassone then granted Miller a second trial, though at the time there was no decision on when that trial would occur.

According to the Associated Press, Sassone has set the date for a second trial on January 12, 2009. However, after losing re-election for the 24th Judicial District Court in Louisiana, Sassone will not be presiding over the trial. Her successor, Ellen Kovach, has also stated she will not be a part of the murder trial due to her open criticism of Sassone during her campaign for election, where she specifically criticized the decisions of the Miller trial. At one point, she went as far as to say that Miller was getting away with more than murder.

Because no judge has been slated for the trial yet, the possibility of a later hearing could be likely. If convicted, Miller faces mandatory life in prison.