Judge Grants Defense Motion for Material Witness, in Upcoming Joshua Keadle Trial

BEATRICE – A Gage County District Judge has granted a defense motion for testimony from a material witness, in the upcoming Joshua Keadle trial, scheduled to begin the week of January 27th in Beatrice.

Keadle is charged with first-degree murder, where the alleged victim is former Peru State student Tyler Thomas.  She was last seen by friends early on December 3^rd, 2010….and has not been found alive or dead.  His trial was moved from Nemaha County to Gage County, on change of venue motion.

The defense motion sought to secure testimony from Bryant Giles.   The defense alleges Giles spoke with Thomas by telephone about two weeks prior to her disappearance.  It’s alleged that Thomas at that time, made statements about her existing physical or medical condition and a plan to move to another state at the completion of her college classes in the Fall of 2010.

Giles is from Texarkana, Arkansas….and is currently jailed in Miller County Arkansas for aggravated domestic assault…according to the defense motion.  He is scheduled to appear in court in Arkansas, January 14^th.

The defense requested that Giles appear as a material witness in Gage County District Court starting February 10^th, for two days.

Judge Rick Schreiner granted the defense motion, after hearing no objection from the state’s attorney.  While in Nebraska, Giles would not be subject to arrest for any matters that may have arisen before his appearance in Nebraska.