In an emotional appearance Monday morning, the man charged in the shooting death of a woman last week was not given a bond and appointed an interim lawyer.
Kelly Dwayne Hamilton, 44, spoke softly and, at times, fought back tears at his hearing on the first-degree murder charge in the death of Crystal Lynn McLamb, 44, last Thursday near Bladenboro. Several family members and friends of Hamilton as well as McLamb’s sister and niece also attended. Some were overcome with emotion during Hamilton’s brief appearance.
Hamilton was read the charge and told of his rights to counsel.
Superior Court Judge James M. Webb ordered Hamilton to remain in custody without bond and appointed Cynthia Singletary of Elizabethtown as his interim lawyer until the state’s Office of Indigent Defense Services appoints a lawyer. Later Monday, Singletary was removed from the case and Harold “Butch” Pope of Whiteville was appointed to represent Hamilton.
The State said Monday in Bladen County Superior Court they do not have a motive for the shooting at this time.
McLamb died shortly before 3 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 11, at a mobile home on Ruby Kidds Road, off Singletary Mill Pond Road, near Bladenboro, according to the Bladen County Sheriff’s Office. Hamilton lived in the home, according to court statements Monday.
Sheriff James McVicker last week said that Hamilton called the 911 center at 3:02 a.m. Thursday to report that McLamb had accidentally shot herself when she moved a loaded weapon that was lying on the coffee table as the two were watching a movie.
McLamb, who lived on Belvedere Avenue in Tar Heel, was pronounced dead at the scene by Bladen County Coroner Hubert Kinlaw. According to prosecution statements Monday, two shots were fired from a revolver that had been on a coffee table; one went into the table and the other struck McLamb.
Investigators on Friday sought warrants for Hamilton’s arrest. He was taken into custody Friday night.
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