Comanche County murder trial continued

The District Attorney’s office has filed a motion to continue the trial of a Lawton man accused of a 2022 killing.

John Benge Bourne, 35, was slated to begin jury selection Monday in Comanche County Chief District Judge Grant Sheperd’s courtroom for felony counts of second-degree murder and possession of a firearm after former felony conviction.

District Attorney Kyle Cabelka said the motion for continuation was made due to the State Medical Examiner’s being subpoenaed for another trial at the same time.

Defense counsel Chance Ramon objected to the continuance on numerous grounds, court records indicate.

Sheperd ordered the state to file a written motion by April 23 to continue to outline his reason. The State is also ordered to provide all contact information for known witnesses to the defense by week’s end.

Bourne is accused of shooting and killing Ian Martinez during an incident witnesses described as being over a perceived slight from a joke about a stolen lighter the night of April 10, 2022.

Investigators believe Bourne pulled the trigger, striking Martinez in the neck with a bullet, according to the affidavit. Witnesses said Bourne fled in his vehicle while Martinez collapsed, dying in his front yard.

Bourne has prior felony convictions: South Carolina jurisdiction, November 2012, second-degree burglary; and Comanche County, February 2019, convicted felons prohibited from carrying firearms, according to Oklahoma Department of Corrections records.

Bourne is slated to appear at 9 a.m. June 25 for his case to be placed on the July/August jury trial docket.

Bourne has been in jail on $500,000 bond since April 13, 2022, records indicate.