ELIZABETH CITY, N.C. — Attorneys for one of the men accused in the deadly 2017 Pasquotank prison escape attempt were in court today.
Their client, Seth Frazier, waived his right to attend the hearing on Monday because he’s required to have high-level security around him at all times.
In October of 2017, Frazier and three other inmates allegedly tried to break out of the sewing plant inside the Pasquotank Correctional Institution.
They never got free, but they are charged with violently attacking prison workers in their escape attempt.
The attack left four workers dead. Corrections Manager Veronica Darden and Officer Justin Smith died during the assault in the sewing plan, while Officer Wendy Shannon and mechanic Geoffrey Howe died from their injuries a few weeks later.
At Monday's court hearing, Frazier’s attorneys said they want his trial to happen in January or February of 2021. Donnya Banks, who represents the victims’ families, said that time-frame is disheartening.
"It’s just really unfortunate that it is taking this amount of time to see any measure of justice," she said.
Banks said the victims’ family members are having a hard time. In October, they sat through Mikel Brady’s trial. A judge sentenced him to death after he took the stand describing his role in the deadly attack.
The next trial family will sit through is Wisezah Buckman’s, which is scheduled for March.
“They aren’t doing great. There has been a lot of grief, stress, and heartache,” Banks explained.
A third inmate, Jonathan Monk, was also expected in court on Monday, but that court appearance was rescheduled to April.