Judge denies motion to throw out possibility of death penalty for Danville murder suspect

Commonwealth seeking death penalty against Pierre Dixon

DANVILLE – The death penalty will be an option in the case against a Danville man charged with capital murder.

On Thursday, a judge overruled a motion by Pierre Dixon's attorney to have the death penalty declared unconstitutional in the case.

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The commonwealth attorney's office is seeking the death penalty.

The judge did, however, grant the attorney's request to have an expert testify that Dixon doesn't pose any future danger.

Dixon is facing five charges in connection with the 2013 shooting death of Antwan Rucker.

Rucker was found shot to death in a car in the parking lot of the Innkeeper motel, now known as the Astoria motel.

A woman, Sharika Murphy, is also facing charges.

Murphy was originally charged with first-degree murder, but the charge has since been reduced to accessory after the fact - homicide.

She is also charged with robbery.

Dixon is scheduled to go to trial in December. Murphy's trial date has not been set.