Charles Severance Has Year to Prepare His Defense in Murder Trial

Charles Severance, charged with murdering three prominent Alexandrians, will have a year to prepare his defense before he goes on trial, according to several media reports Thursday.

Judge Jane Marum Roush, who has handled other high-profile murder trials, set the trial date for Monday, Oct. 5, 2015. The Fairfax County Circuit Court judge will preside over the trial of Severance, accused of murdering music teacher Ruthanne Lodato, transportation planner Ronald Kirby and real estate agent Nancy Dunning. All left behind mourning families and friends shocked by the daytime shootings. Alexandria’s three Circuit Court judges recused themselves from a trial.

Severance, 54, most recently lived with his girlfriend in Ashburn, but has had a history of getting involved on the edges of Alexandria politics over the years. 

On Thursday Severance’s attorney, Alexandria criminal lawyer Christopher Leibig, discussed trying to change the location of the trial and also separating Dunning’s murder from those of Lodato and Kirby, the Washington Post reported. No explanation was given.

Judge Roush has presided over other high-profile trials including that of sniper serial killer Lee Boyd Malvo, who was convicted in 2004 of killing an FBI analyst in the Home Depot parking lot in the Seven Corners area. A jury sentenced him to life in prison.

Roush also presided over another high-profile trial, last fall, of murdered college student Vanessa Pham. A graduate of Madison High School in Vienna, Pham, 19, was a student at Savannah College of Art & Design and was home on summer break when she gave Julio Blanco Garcia and his baby a ride. She was stabbed 13 times and found in her car on the side of the road on Route 50. In the case Roush agreed with a jury’s recommendation, sentencing Garcia to 49 years in prison.

Also read:

• Alexandria Resident Ruthanne Lodato Killed in Shooting Thursday
• Shooting Victim Ruthanne Lodato was Mother of 3, Music Teacher
• Ruthanne Lodato Homicide: Alexandria Police Chief, Mayor Attempt to Reassure Community
• Alexandria Police Release Sketch of Suspected Shooter in Lodato Murder
• Police Restrict Access to Streets Around Shooting
• Ruthanne Lodato Funeral: Hundreds Gather to Say Goodbye
• Police to Hold News Conference on Lodato Homicide Investigation
• VIDEO: Alexandria Police Chief Doesn’t Rule Out Serial Killer
• What Ties Lodato Homicide to Other Victims?
• Prosecutor: Man Wanted for Questioning in Alexandria Slayings ‘A Danger’; 2 Guns Missing
• Public Defender Says Charles Severance Being Held on ‘Sham’ Charges
• Gov. McAuliffe Signs Extradition Order for ‘Person of Interest’ in Alexandria Killings
• Prosecutor: Charles Severance Served With Extradition Warrant
• Charles Severance’s Attorney Asks to Delay Extradition Hearing to April 24
• FBI, Police Search Water for Evidence in Connection with Three Alexandria Homicides
• Woman Reportedly Purchased Guns for Severance; Public Defender, Again, Asks for His Release Under ‘Sham’ Charges
• Charles Severance, ‘Person of Interest’ in Alexandria Shootings, Due in Court
• Judge: Severance Must Return to Virginia
• Charles Severance Set to Be Extradited to Virginia
• Charles Severance Transported Monday to Loudoun County Adult Detention Center
• Commonwealth’s Attorney Won’t Seek Death Penalty in Severance Case
• Accused Murderer Charles Severance Moved to Alexandria
• Judge Who Presided Over Sniper Trial to Rule on Murder Case Against Severance
• Alexandria Sheriff: Charles Severance Moved to Arlington Jail

PHOTO: Booking photo of Charles Severance