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	The Ypsilanti Courier A Heritage Newspaper Weekly Publication

Pre-trial delayed for suspect in Graygo slaying

Defense attorneys ask for more time to prepare for case

By Christine Laughren, Staff Writer

PUBLISHED: July 31, 2008

Defense attorneys for Derrick Oliver, who faces charges for the murder of an Ypsilanti Township woman, were granted additional time to prepare for the case after two expert witnesses were called to the stand in the pre-trial last Friday.

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Oliver's attorney Anthony Chambers said he received a large amount of discovery for the case, some of which did not arrive at his office until July 24.

District Judge John Collins agreed to give the defense more time but asked that two expert witnesses scheduled for the pre-trial still be called.

Chambers said he would be prepared to argue for his client's innocence after he had more time to review the discovery.

"There appears to be other suspects," Chambers said. "We believe they have the wrong person."

Oliver, 31, is facing charges related to the murder of Lindsay Graygo. Graygo, 29, was found lying face down in her bathtub, partially clothed, beaten and strangled to death.

Washtenaw County Sheriff's Deputies suspected Graygo was beaten and sexually assaulted before she was strangled to death. Deputies also suspected Graygo may have been familiar with her attacker as there was no sign of forced entry into her apartment.Oliver and Graygo lived in the same building in Lake Shore Apartments in Ypsilanti Township. Oliver requested, however, to end his lease claiming he did not feel safe after Graygo's body was discovered.

Oliver was arrested June 20 after DNA found under a fingernail on Graygo's right hand matched Oliver's.According to testimony given last Friday by Erica Ames, an expert witness in DNA analysis, the chances the DNA found on Graygo's body is not Oliver exceeds 300 billion to one.

The second expert witness to take the stand at the pre-trial was Washtenaw County Medical Examiner Dr. Bader Cassin.

Cassin said he performed the autopsy and determined the cause of death to be asphyxiation by strangulation.

Cassin said Graygo's body had several abrasions and numerous bruises.

However, he said one of the more notable marks were linear stress marks around Graygo's neck. Cassin said he believes Graygo was strangled with a soft, pliable material then placed in the bathtub, which had some water in it, after her death.

Chambers said Oliver has never been in jail before and has taken and passed a police polygraph. He also emphasized that there was a lot of DNA found on Graygo's body and in her apartment and the only DNA that matches his client's was found under her fingernail."It will all come out in the trial," Chambers said. "We just need to find 12 jurors who can give us a fair shake."Oliver's pre-trial has been rescheduled for 10 a.m. Aug. 15.

Contact Staff Writer Christine Laughren at 697-8255 or at claughren@heritage.com