BECKLEY, W.Va. – The trial for a woman accused of poisoning and killing her husband has been continued until December. Natalie Cochran is accused of first degree murder and was previously charged with the murder of her husband Michael Cochran in February 2019.
The first time she was indicted, the charges were dismissed until new evidence was introduced into the case. Now charged again, prosecutors contend she poisoned Michael Cochran with insulin.
Natalie Cochran is a former pharmacist in Daniels. She’s currently serving 11 years in prison for her role in a fraud scheme. Cochran’s murder case was expected to go trial later this month, but in her pretrial hearing, her attorneys argued the discovery process is incomplete.
“Since the state failed to provide us with the entire discovery of this case I file a motion to dismiss. Perhaps more realistically is the postponement of this case until the whole process of discovery is complete,” said Cochran’s defense attorney, Matthew Victors.
Defense lawyers list some evidence still in question, including cell phones, flash drives and an insulin bottle. Prosecutors concede issues with evidence, calling it a misunderstanding. However, the state asked the judge to deny the defense request for a dismissal.
“There is no grounds for dismissal in this case whatsoever. This was a good faith error. We tried to give them everything they were entitled to and we made a mistake and that’s on us,” said Raleigh County assistant prosecutor, Tom Truman. “There is no grounds for dismissal. There is nothing nefarious going on here. The state’s not trying to hide anything.”
Judge H.L. Kirkpatrick is presiding over the case and did not grant Cochran’s motion to dismiss the case, but the judge seemed to reveal some frustration in the developments that came to light in this hearing.
“I was assured by the prosecuting attorney Mr. Hatfield that all the discovery had been provided to the defense. It’s somewhat irritating and certainly disappointing to find out now that it hasn’t been,” said Kirkpatrick.
In the end, the judge did grant the continuance in the murder trial for Natalie Cochran. Now prosecutors and defense attorneys are set to collaborate and compare what evidence they have in the case, completing the discovery process required before the case can be presented to a jury.
Cochran’s defense attorneys argued it may take a week or more to review all the evidence in the case.
Raleigh County’s Prosecuting Attorney Ben Hatfield confirms this afternoon that Cochran’s trial is set to begin with jury selection on Dec. 30.
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