Natalie Cochran granted continuance in Raleigh County murder trial

BECKLEY, WV (WVNS) — A continuance was granted for a Raleigh County woman who is on trial for the alleged murder of her then-husband.

The defense attorneys for Natalie Cochran asked Raleigh County Circuit Judge H.L. Kirkpatrick to continue her trial for the first-degree murder of her husband, Michael Cochran.

The trial is scheduled for August 12, 2024.

Her attorneys told the judge they need more time to review a “mountain” of evidence which includes medical, financial and electronic records and that it is impossible before trial. They said they believe there is evidence that can help Cochran in the evidence but they need more time to go through it.

“It’s just impossible,” said Defense Attorney Stan Selden, speaking is completing a defense by August 12, 2024.

Raleigh County Prosecuting Attorney Ben Hatfield said much of the federal information is related to Cochran’s federal investigation of a Ponzi scheme for which she is currently second a prison term.

“There is a tremendous amount of redundancy,” Hatfield said.

He asked the court to maintain the current trial date. Cochran pleaded guilty in federal court to charges related to a Ponzi scheme. The prosecution alleges Cochran later killed her husband when he became suspicious of the couple’s two businesses, which prosecutors have said Cochran was operating.

The judge was considering the motions at 9:45 am.

Cochran is serving the federal sentence at FCI Hazelton but has been at Southern Regional Jail and will stay at SRJ through her trial.

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