Man Charged in Hunnewell Case Rejects Plea Deal

Columbia, S.C. (WOLO) — On Tuesday, a midlands man accused of murder rejected a plea deal. The deal would have reduced the murder charge to voluntary manslaughter. Troy Stevenson, the third suspect accused of killing 33-year old Kelley Hunnewell in 2013 at a bakery in Columbia, appeared before a judge for the second straight day. At first, Stevenson accepted the plea deal but then changed his mind when he stood in front of the judge alongside his lawyer. The judge asked Stevenson if he thought the state had sufficient evidence to prove his guilt in a jury trial. Stevenson answered ‘No.’ His answer immediately brought in the jury for a jury trial. In their opening statement, the prosecution called Stevenson ‘the lookout’ outside the bakery on July 1, 2013 while his brother and a friend robbed the bakery and then killed Hunnewell. Prosecutors said under South Carolina law, if more than one person is acting together to commit a crime, everyone is guilty. “What’s known in South Carolina as Accomplice Liability,” said the Prosecutor. “It’s also referred to as the hand of one is the hand of all.” However, the defense argued Stevenson was there because his mom told him to go find his brother. On the stand, the state called a dozen witnesses, including several investigators on the scene and a neighbor across from the bakery. Stevenson is also charged with armed robbery, burglary and kidnapping. Court will resume Wednesday morning in Richland County.