Murder trial date reset

Tellico Village resident Norman Bren Whitton is expected to stand trial Feb. 7 for the April 2010 shooting death of fellow Tellico Village resident Larry Butcher.

The trial, originally set for June 2, was again pushed back Friday in Loudon County Circuit Court.
Butcher, 74, of 167 Saligugi Way, Loudon, was shot once in the chest April 15, 2010, in an altercation at the intersection of Cheestana Way and Toqua Road in the Village.

Whitton, 70, of 225 Cheestana Way, Loudon, was charged with second-degree murder in the shooting death.

At the time of Whitton's arrest, Loudon County Sheriff Tim Guider said the sheriff's office was called to the intersection about 6:15 p.m. that day. Guider said Whitton was still at the scene and was taken into custody without incident.

EMS workers were unable to revive Butcher.

The sheriff said the altercation apparently began as Whitton, who was driving his car, came upon Butcher in a golf cart at the intersection. He said Whitton used a .38-caliber revolver to shoot Butcher from inside the vehicle. The gun was recovered from the passenger's seat.