With more information being brought up in discovery, both Sanilac County Prosecutor Brenda Sanford and defense attorney Gerry Mason say they need more time before Shawn Patrick Woodruff’s case goes to trial.
Woodruff, accused of the August hit-and-run death of Ben Green in Croswell, appeared before Circuit Court Judge Timothy Wrathell for his 9:00 a.m. pre-trial examination this morning, December 7, having had his case bound over from district court almost a month ago. Both sides attested that they were still waiting on certain reports and information, such as toxicology, autopsy and state police reports, and the first of two 911 calls made by another witness.
With multiple pre-trial motions needed in the case, Judge Wrathell agreed to further conference with the attorneys later today, for now scheduling the trial out to June 2023, as well as setting the next court date, a 10:00 a.m. status conference on Wednesday, February 8.
The trial is estimated to take about 6 days in court, with Woodruff being charged with several offenses. These offenses include: open murder, reckless driving causing death, failure to stop at the scene of an accident when at fault causing death, witness intimidation, assault with intent to do great bodily harm, and misdemeanors including moving violation causing death, aggravated assault against a witness and failure to report an accident, as well as notice as a habitual offender, fourth offense.
Woodruff is still being held on a $10 million bond, cash or surety, with other conditions applying to that bond. If convicted, he could receive life in prison without parole for his maximum sentence.
