http://www.hendersonvillenews.com/ap...66/1042/NEWS01

Court date to be set soon in Gash trial

John Harbin
Times-News Staff Writer


A court date for a woman charged with killing and dismembering her husband will be set during the next session of Henderson County Superior Court.

Gail Hutchinson Gash, 52, of 383 South Rugby Road, Hendersonville is charged with the 2004 first-degree murder of her husband, Don Gash, a cattle farmer who had been the chief of the Etowah-Horse Shoe Volunteer Fire Department on and off for several years.

Mrs. Gash's defense attorneys filed a scheduling order Wednesday with the Henderson County District Attorney's Office.

According to the order, any pending motions in the case will be heard the week of July 24 and that a trial date will be set by the court at that time.

In addition to setting a trial date, the order states that the defense must file notice of its defense strategy for Mrs. Gash by June 16.

Within 30 days from June 16, the defense must provide the prosecution with all the discovery information required by law in the case, according to the scheduling order.

Any further requests that the defense or prosecution have in the case will be heard during the Henderson County Superior Court session the week of July 24.

According to the order, Superior Court Judge Zoro J. Guice has recused himself from the Gash case. However, the parties will attempt to locate another judge to hear the motions, which could include a motion related to change of venue.

Donald "Donn" Edward Gash, 33, who lived with his parents at the time of the murder, turned over handwriting and blood samples in compliance with court orders that named him as a suspect in his father's murder. To date, no charges have been filed against him.

Mrs. Gash is being held in the NC DOC Center for Women in Raleigh due to medical issues.