Murder charges against pair headed to grand jury

Murder charges against two men will be sent to a Campbell County grand jury for consideration following a preliminary hearing today.

Alphonso Lamont Destin, 21, and Renauldo Sinclair Oliver, 23, are charged with murder in the May 23 slaying of 69-year-old Wilbur West at his Leewood Road home.

During today’s preliminary hearing, a judge decided there is enough evidence to support those charges to send the cases forward to the grand jury.

West was found on May 25, just inside his doorway. According to court records, investigators believe the shooting happened two days earlier.

In a June bond hearing, Campbell County Sheriff’s Office Investigator Dwayne Wade testified Oliver admitted on videotape to being the shooter and to pilfering the dead man’s pockets for $25 to $30 in cash.

Wade testified Oliver told him that Destin pressured him into the shooting and that he shot West in the head because West had seen his face.

During Destin’s June bond hearing, Deputy Commonwealth’s Attorney Paul McAndrews said Destin “went there as muscle.”

McAndrews said Oliver and Destin pushed West to the ground before shooting him. He said a medical examiner’s report showed West could have died from head injuries from the fall.

Both men are jailed without bond.