Trial Delayed for Fayetteville Man Accused of Killing Roommate
The trial of Fayetteville man Jason Lawson, who confessed to killing his roommate, has been delayed. Originally set to begin on August 13, the trial is now rescheduled for November 12.
Lawson, 27, was arrested on June 13 after authorities responded to a welfare check at an apartment on Lapis Lane, where they found a deceased man, identified as Benjamin Martin, 33, lying on the kitchen floor. Martin was allegedly killed on June 8 during a dispute.
According to court records, Lawson entered a plea of not guilty to charges of first-degree murder and tampering with physical evidence on July 8. During questioning, he claimed Martin brandished a hammer, prompting him to defend himself with a pocket knife. He stated that Martin fell onto the blade, but the details of the event were “a blur,” and he refused to disclose the whereabouts of the murder weapon.
Lawson remains in custody at the Washington County Detention Center with a bond set at 0,000.
The delay in the trial is attributed to incomplete reports from the Arkansas State Crime Lab.
