
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, March 4, 1994                   TAG: 9403040037
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B-1   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: MIKE HUDSON STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: WINCHESTER                                LENGTH: Short

SHERIFF TO TELL OF LAYNE INTERROGATION

Botetourt County Sheriff Reed Kelly is expected to testify today about his lengthy interrogation of capital murder suspect William R. Layne.

Layne is accused of kidnapping and killing his 11-year-old stepniece, Phadra Carter, on Sept. 18. His trial continued into its fourth day Thursday despite blizzard conditions, with the start of testimony delayed until noon.

Kelly questioned Layne for several days after Layne was arrested. Layne claimed that he could not remember what happened the weekend Phadra was taken from her home in Rockbridge County and slain in the woods of Botetourt County.

But Kelly testified at an earlier hearing that Layne would not deny he committed the crime. Kelly said Layne said his mind was blank, and that Layne said he might have "just snapped."

Prosecutors are trying to show that Layne, 41, kidnapped Phadra with the intention of sexually molesting her.

Layne's attorneys say there is no evidence of sexual assault in connection with Phadra's death.

The trial was moved from Botetourt to Winchester because of publicity and public anger over Phadra's death.

by CNB