With more information to exchange in the discovery process and Sanilac County District Judge Gregory Ross absent from the day’s proceedings, part two of Shawn Patrick Woodruff’s probable cause conference was postponed for November 8.
Woodruff, the 27-year-old Croswell man accused of the intentional hit-and-run death of Ben Green, was last in court on August 30, listening alongside a packed courtroom to his cousin testify about Woodruff’s actions on August 8.
Both defense attorney Gerry Mason and assistant prosecuting attorney Robert Heyboer were in agreement as they stood before substitute Judge Fred Borchard on Tuesday, October 11, formally requesting a delay to the proceedings, citing Judge Ross discussing this postponement with them prior and his wish to be at the probable cause conference.
They also confirmed to Judge Borchard that information yielded from discovery was still being exchanged between the involved parties, the same reason the first part of the probable cause conference had been postponed two months ago.
Judge Borchard agreed to the terms, setting the date to Tuesday, November 8 at 1:30 p.m.
Woodruff was charged with open murder, reckless driving causing death, failure to stop at the scene of an accident when at fault causing death, witness intimidation, assault with intent to do great bodily harm, and misdemeanors including moving violation causing death, aggravated assault against a witness and failure to report an accident, as well as notice as a habitual offender, fourth offense. If convicted, Woodruff could receive life in prison without parole for his maximum sentence.
