CHARLESTON, W.Va. — A man charged with killing a 15 year old boy on Charleston’s East End won’t go on trial until May.
Kanawha County Circuit Judge Charlie King delayed the trial of William Pulliam, 62, for a third time on Wednesday.
Pulliam’s trial is now scheduled to start May 7. It was supposed to start Monday.
Prosecutors told the judge Wednesday a psychiatric witness is currently too sick to testify.
Pulliam is charged with first degree murder and felony use of a firearm in connection with the death of James Means. The boy was shot and killed in Nov. 2016.
The first time the trial was delayed was in Aug. 2017 to allow more preparation time for Pulliam’s attorney Richard Hollicker. The trial was again pushed back to Jan. 29 due to a key witness being out of town.
The shooting happened outside the Dollar General Store, just a few blocks from the state Capitol. Pulliam claims he acted in self defense, but prosecutors argue Means was shot multiple times as he tried to run away from Pulliam.
Pulliam allegedly told police “another piece of trash is off the street” following the incident.
Detectives previously said Means kept a BB-gun in his waistband that resembled a hand gun. It was later found in a bag. Pulliam is accused of telling the boy before he shot him, “That toy gun is going to get you f-ing killed.”
Pulliam is currently being held without bail at the South Central Regional Jail.