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EYEWITNESS LOCAL NEWS
MARCH ATTEMPTED PLEA REJECTEDfrom Eyewitness News Online Kanawha Judge Rejects Attempted Plea In Case Of Man Accused Of Slaying Co-worker Reported by: Videographer: Troy Morgan Web Producer: Leslie Rubin Reported: Nov. 28, 2012 4:26 PM EST Updated: Nov. 28, 2012 10:29 PM EST
Charleston
, Kanawha County
, West Virginia
The man accused of murdering his co-worker and burying her in his yard, tries to plead guilty in court, but the judge denies his plea. Charles March is charged with first degree murder and concealment of a body after Kathy Goble's remains were found buried in his yard two years and one day after she disappeared. Goble's family members came into court expecting a guilty plea, but now March's case could be heard by a jury. Rolling into court in a wheelchair, as opposed to his past two appearances on a gurney, March told the judge he was ready to admit guilt in Goble's murder. "I'd just like to get this over with today if it's possible," March told Judge Duke Bloom. Less than four months ago, March proclaimed innocence in a jailhouse suicide note before throwing himself off a second story balcony at the jail. "I personally don't have any respect for Mr. March at all, regardless of what he does," said Goble family spokesperson Billy Herrald. Before March had the chance to enter a guilty plea, Judge Bloom intervened, citing concerns March wanted to go against the advice of his attorney, Rick Holicker, and the fact there was still forensic evidence that had not been returned in the case. "We have worked very hard to dissuade him from taking this course of action," Holicker said during the hearing. Two years and one day after she disappeared, Goble's remains were found buried in March's yard in Chesapeake. Court documents say March admitted to strangling Goble, dismembering her in the bathtub with a wooden saw, and then burying her body in his yard and her purse under his deck. "You just kind of want to get this over with and move forward," said Herrald. Several of Goble's family members snickered in the gallery when Holicker suggested he would move to dismiss the case if it weren't tried within this term of court. "Of course we all know that that's absurd," Herrald said. With the next court day scheduled for the day after Christmas, Goble's family says they will remain hopeful for justice. "At this point Christmas is just another day for everyone. We'll get through that holiday just like we got through Thanksgiving," Herrald said. If all evidence is in, Bloom said he would allow March to plead guilty at the next hearing, or the case would then go to trial. A judge has rejected a plea from a Kanawha County man accused of killing a former co-worker and burying her remains in his backyard. Charles Eugene March told Circuit Judge Duke Bloom on Wednesday that he wanted to plead guilty in the death of Sheila "Kathy" Goble. But Bloom noted that forensic and psychological tests haven't been completed. Media outlets report Bloom pushed March's trial date back to Dec. 26. March faces charges of first-degree murder and concealment of a deceased human body. The 62-year-old Goble was last seen at the Charleston men's clothing store where she worked on April 4, 2010. A criminal complaint says after Goble's remains were found last April, March told authorities he strangled her and buried her in his backyard. MORE NEWS FROM EYEWITNESS NEWS
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