Motion for continuance granted in trial of 2-year-old boy's second-degree murder

COLUMBIA – The trial of Keyonda Lumpkin, 27, was granted a continuance on Monday in Boone County Circuit Court.

Lumpkin is charged with second-degree murder in the death of her 2-year-old son, Cortez Johnson. Cortez died at University Hospital from blunt-force trauma to the head on June 25, 2008.

The boy’s father, Horace Johnson, is also charged with second-degree murder.

On Monday, Boone County Circuit Court Judge Gene Hamilton granted a motion to endorse two additional witnesses in the case. The motion was filed on Feb. 27 by the prosecutor.

Kevin O’Brien, who is representing Lumpkin, said he filed a motion to continue the trial to a later date in order to have more time to investigate the new witnesses and find out what they would have to say.

The trial will now be held at 9 a.m. on March 16.