WAYNE COUNTY — A Clay County judge Wednesday approved a request from an Edgewood man accused of first-degree murder to have computer access while he’s held in the Clay County Jail.

Walter West has been held in the Clay County Jail on $2.5 million bond since his arrest in October 2021 for the death of 80-year-old Roger Courson during a botched burglary of his rural Edgewood home.

Courson’s son appeared in court Wednesday along with the victim advocate. Both parties confirmed a December 5 jury trial in the case, with a final pre-trial hearing scheduled for November 7.

The setting would make West the first of three men to stand trial for Courson’s murder last year.

Twenty-nine-year-old Christopher Gallatin of Centralia, and 40-year-old Jamie Charlton, of Salem, are also charged with murder and residential burglary in connection with the case.

West is additionally charged with escape after he allegedly fled the Clay County jail following visiting hour. He was quickly captured after being found hiding along the Little Wabash River.

It was agreed in court Wednesday that West will first be tried on the murder case with the escape case being tried later.