Continued delays expected in S'ville church fire case

Prosecutors don't expect to re-try the pastor accused of burning down his Bethel AME Church anytime soon.

But 1st Circuit Solicitor David Pascoe said he still wants to put former pastor Harold E. Hunter, 59, and his wife Patricia, 57, on trial for the blaze that struck the South Main Street church.

Hunter's trial ended with a deadlocked jury almost two years ago. Since the mistrial, various events have worked against scheduling the case again. Some of the lawyers have had other trial conflicts. Also, one elderly official in the church who was a witness has died, a second has suffered a lengthy illness and has left the area, a church official said.

The Hunters were arrested four days after the church burned on the night of April 28, 2005, and charged with second-degree arson. If convicted, each faces up to 25 years in prison. They are currently free.

A motive for the blaze was not disclosed during Hunter's October 2006 trial, but prosecutors have speculated he wanted to build a new church, and also wanted to avoid being transferred to another AME church in rural Dorchester County.

Though initially shocked by the fire, congregation members opted to rebuild and reopen.

Read more in tomorrow's editions of The Post and Courier.