A court document shows a north Mississippi police officer has been charged with murder in the death of a woman he was romantically involved with.
Lafayette Circuit Judge Andrew Howorth on Tuesday signed the order saying Oxford Police Officer Matthew Kinne has been charged with murder by the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation.
In a Wednesday hearing, Howorth decided, after consulting the District Attorney and defendant’s counsel, that there would be no probable cause hearing.
The district attorney wanted time to review what position it would take on a bond, potentially to make a bond recommendation to the court. A bond hearing will be set for a future date, as early as next week.
Courtesy: the Panola County Sherriff’s Office
Kinne is accused of killing 32-year-old Dominque Clayton, who was found dead Sunday.
A probable cause hearing, an extra step before an arrest, is only required when police officers and certain other public employees are accused of crimes while on duty. Howorth’s order says it is alleged that Kinne was not performing law enforcement duties at the time of when he’s accused of killing Clayton.
Some of Clayton’s family protested a prosecutor’s discussion of possible bail for the police officer charged with killing her after Kinne’s hearing on Wednesday.
Bessie and Carolyn Clayton, Dominique’s mother and aunt, respectively, shouted complaints to reporters, saying no black person would be considered for bail, but prosecutors and a judge are willing to consider bail for the white man accused of killing her daughter. The victim, Dominique Clayton, was black.
“We don’t want a bond,” Interim Oxford Police Chief Jeff McCutchen said after the hearing, emphasizing his support for Clayton’s family. “Matthew Kinne committed murder, and we don’t want him out.”
Bessie Clayton also complained that Howorth laughed during the hearing. Clayton’s relatives began voicing displeasure as they left the courtroom.
A prosecutor tells Howorth he thinks both sides can agree on “reasonable” bail for Kinne. He remains in custody in neighboring Panola County. Howorth also directed that Kinne be appointed a lawyer.
The Associated Press contributed to this article.
