Munday, girlfriend indicted by grand jury

October 16, 2003|by CANDICE BOSELY

MARTINSBURG, W.Va. - A grand jury on Wednesday indicted David Eugene Munday and his girlfriend on charges that they tried to bribe two witnesses connected to the October 2002 shooting of West Virginia State Police Trooper R.J. "Bobby" Elswick.

Munday, 38, of Hedgesville, W.Va., and Connie Marie Harrison, 40, of Shenandoah Junction, W.Va., both were indicted on two counts of attempting to induce another person to testify falsely and one count of conspiracy to suborn perjury.

During several different phone conversations, Munday and Harrison discussed paying up to $50,000 to Johnny and Sandra Lambert if the couple either left the state, thereby possibly preventing subpoena delivery, or lied and said they knew nothing about the shooting or other events that led to it, West Virginia State Police Trooper M.M. Kingery said.

Munday's father, who lives near Richmond, Va., was to provide the money, Kingery said.

Before he allegedly shot Elswick, Munday broke into the Lamberts' mobile home three times and held Johnny Lambert hostage at gunpoint, police said.

After state troopers arrived to handle the potential hostage situation, Munday walked out of the trailer and shot Elswick once above his left ear, police allege.

Elswick continues to recover from the wound.

Munday's trial is scheduled to begin next week for charges stemming from the Oct. 10, 2002, shooting. He previously was indicted on 28 charges, including two counts of breaking and entering, three counts of kidnapping, six counts of wanton endangerment, one count of malicious wounding and four counts of attempted murder.

Munday is being held without bail at Potomac Highlands Regional Jail in Augusta, W.Va.

Harrison is free on $50,000 bail.

Grand jury proceedings are held behind closed doors. Of the 16 jurors in the panel, 12 must agree for a "true bill" to be returned, which allows the case to proceed for possible trial. During grand jury proceedings, only the state and its witnesses are heard; defense attorneys do not present any evidence.

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