Riddle murder trial moved up one day

The murder trial of a Tullahoma man accused of stabbing Joseph Timothy Floyd of Wartrace has been moved ahead one day.

Jury selection has been set for Friday, Jan. 16, with opening arguments commencing Tuesday, Jan. 20, at 9 a.m. at the Moore County Courthouse in Lynchburg in the case against Jacob Wayne "Jake" Riddle.

The case will be heard by Judge Robert Crigler, who said he had no estimate on how long the trial could last. Last year, Crigler originally set the trial for Jan. 19, but it was later noticed that date was Martin Luther King Day for 2009, so the start date was re-scheduled.

Riddle, who was indicted last April on charges of first degree murder in the death of the 20-year-old, entered a plea of not guilty.

Floyd was stabbed in the early morning of Feb. 2 at a party in the Lost Creek area of Moore County near Tims Ford Lake.

During a preliminary hearing last April, witnesses testified about what they saw the night Floyd was killed. One stated that a number of fights occurred during the party, culminating in the fatal altercation.

Testimony from two witnesses stated that a "three on one" fight occurred in which Riddle was attacked by Floyd, whom he did not know, and two other partygoers.

Both witnesses testified they saw Riddle pull a knife. While one of the witnesses did not see the fight that resulted in Floyd's death, the other testified that Riddle allegedly said, "I'll stab him, I'll stab him."

The death occurred in front of Lost Creek Bait Shop, which is across the street from the cabin where the party took place.

According to testimony from one witness who allegedly saw the slaying, Floyd ran toward Riddle, tackled him and a fight started with Floyd on top. Then, Floyd stood up, clutching his chest, walked about 50 feet and collapsed.

The witness stated that Riddle said: "What did I do? What did I do?"

Floyd was a member of the Tennessee Army National Guard and a student at Motlow State Community College.