Change of judge granted in Liley murder case

MARBLE HILL, Mo. -- A Bollinger County circuit judge granted Lonnie Liley's request Thursday for a change of judge in the murder case against him.

Liley, 42, faces charges of second-degree murder and armed criminal action in connection with the Jan. 23 shooting death of his brother, 50-year-old Jessie Liley.

On Thursday, Circuit Judge Benjamin Lewis upheld a defense motion for a change of judge, assigning the case to Circuit Judge William Syler and scheduling Liley to appear before Syler this morning.

According to a probable-cause affidavit filed in the case, Lonnie Liley told Detective Della K. Moore of the Bollinger County Sheriff's Department he shot his brother in self-defense after the elder Liley shoved Lonnie Liley's mother out of the way and tried to grab his gun.

"Lonnie stated that Jessie came in the house screaming about guns like a '[expletive] wild maniac,'" Moore wrote in the affidavit. "Lonnie Liley stated that he had to do what he had to do. Lonnie also stated a '. 45 don't lie.'"

A neighbor, identified as Jessie Liley's girlfriend, said Lonnie Liley had pulled a gun on her son, prompting Jessie Liley to go to his brother's home, where "two seconds later we all heard a gun go off," Moore wrote.

According to the affidavit, Lonnie Liley's statements to police contained several inconsistencies.

He initially said he did not have a gun before the shooting, but he later admitted he had an AK-47 in his possession when the son of his brother's girlfriend came over, Moore wrote.

Lonnie Liley "stated that he was not carrying it around with any intentions," Moore wrote.

Four hours after the shooting -- which was reported about 9:30 a.m. -- a breath test showed his blood alcohol content was 0.152, although he had told police he hadn't consumed any alcohol since midnight, Moore wrote.

Lonnie Liley remains in the Bollinger County Jail on $500,000 cash-only bond.

epriddy@semissourian.com

388-3642

Pertinent address:

Marble Hill, Mo.