Van Metre

Attorneys for James Howard VanMetre III are using Maryland's trial-scheduling rule to thwart prosecution of their client, an assistant state's attorney claimed in Carroll Circuit Court yesterday.The rule requires prosecutors to try a criminal defendant within 180 days of the appearance of an attorney in the case.It "is being used here as a sword," said Assistant State's Attorney Christy McFaul during the second day of VanMetre's pretrial motions hearing.VanMetre, 35, was indicted in December 1991 on first-degree murder charges in the strangulation of Holly Ann Blake, 28, whose burned remains were found Oct. 6, 1991 on a Harney farm.

GETTYSBURG, Pa. -- If it weren't for the voices inside his head, urging him to go "somewhere in the wrong direction," James VanMetre III says he wouldn't be sitting in a medium-security state prison 30 miles north of here awaiting first-degree rape and murder trials in two states.If it weren't for those voices, the 34-year-old tree trimmer and occasional drifter wouldn't be facing what amounts to more than 200 years behind bars."You know, my mind kept telling me, 'Go for it,' " he told Pennsylvania state police in Chattanooga, Tenn.

Rape trial postponedGETTYSBURG, Pa. -- Awaiting a decision on whether a 34-year-old tree trimmer accused in the Taneytown slaying of a Gettysburg woman is competent to stand trial on an unrelated rape charge here, a county judge postponed his rape trial.James Howard Van Metre, formerly of East Berlin, Pa., was indicted in December on charges of first- and second-degree murder, assault with intent to murder, manslaughter and battery in the death of Holly Haynes Blake.State police began investigating him in connection with Blake's disappearance when ashes and suspected human bone fragments were found on a farm in the 4700 block of Baptist Road in Taneytown.

A 34-year-old tree trimmer was indicted by a Carroll grand jury Thursday in the Taneytown slaying of a Gettysburg, Pa., woman.James Howard Van Metre formerly of East Berlin, Pa., was indicted on chargesof first- and second-degree murder, assault with intent to murder, manslaughter and battery in the death of Holly Haynes Blake.State police began investigating Van Metre in connection with Blake's disappearance when ashes and suspected human bone fragments werefound on a farm in the 4700 block of Baptist Road in Taneytown.