Closed Pretrial Hearings Opposed

{Paducah,  Kentucky}...Paducah Sun attorney Mark Whitlow is opposing a prosecutor's request to close pretrial hearings in a deadly 1998 dorm fire at Murray State University. Prosecutor Mark Blankenship filed motions this month to close hearings in the case against Jerry Wayne Walker of Paducah, who faces trial in July on charges of manslaughter, arson, assault and wanton endangerment. The fire in Hester Hall killed 19 year old Michael Minger of Niceville, Florida and later prompted broad changes in campus fire security in Kentucky. Walker went to trial in 2001, but a mistrial was declared after jurors deadlocked. Prosecutors charged Walker again in September.