Defense in Wyatt Campbell Trial Looks for Evidence of Drug Dealing

With less than a month before the trial of a Rose Hill teen accused of murder, his defense team has filed new subpoenas seeking information about the victim and witnesses in the case.

The defendant's lawyer has also revealed that he intends to use a claim of self-defense in the trial.

The 15-year-old defendant is charged with second degree murder in the death of 18-year-old Rose Hill resident Wyatt Campbell, who on October 14, 2010. The trial is scheduled for July 5.

It is Patch policy not to name minors charged with crimes.

In a subpoena request for documents filed on June 3, the defendant's attorney, Cary Greenberg, requested that the Fairfax County Public Schools Record Center produce Campbell's school records, including his discipline and attendance information. 

Camille Turner, the Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney, called the request a "fishing expedition" in a motion asking for a judge to deny the subpoena. According to Turner, the subpoena is just intended to produce information that could be used to attack Campbell's character during the trial.

A hearing on whether or not to quash the subpoena is scheduled for June 17.

The defense has also requested any information held by the prosecution about whether Campbell dealt drugs. In a request filed on June 10, Greenberg requests any information held by the Commonwealth's Attorney about whether Campbell had a reputation for selling drugs, and whether he actually did sell them.

In the same discovery request, Greenberg asked for the criminal and juvenile records of every witness testifying on behalf of the prosecution, as well as Campbell's juvenile criminal record.

Greenberg wrote that he requested Campbell's juvenile criminal records because he wanted to use a self-defense claim in the trial, and access to Campbell's record would help the defense to locate new witnesses.