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

DATE: THURSDAY, August 3, 1995                   TAG: 9508030070
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C-2   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: DIANE STRUZZI
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

CAPITAL MURDER CASE CERTIFIED

A Roanoke General District judge on Wednesday certified the capital murder case of Michael James Houser to a Roanoke grand jury.

Houser, 24, of Tayloe Avenue Southeast, is charged in the slaying and robbery of Randall Carter early June 30. Carter was shot in his Memorial Avenue Southwest home and died a day later from his injuries.

His wife, Betty Hood Carter, testified Wednesday that she heard her husband arguing with another man who wanted her husband to give up his wallet. When she heard gunshots, she fled her home.

Houser was later seen in the emergency room of Community Hospital of Roanoke Valley, suffering from a gunshot to his abdomen, according to testimony. In his shoe, medical personnel found $190 in cash.

Houser was arrested July 11 and charged with capital murder and robbery.

Police arrested another suspect earlier last month. Thomas Arthur Burton, 28, also has been charged with the capital murder and robbery of Carter. In addition, Burton was charged with shooting Houser.

Keywords:
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by CNB