PARKERSBURG - One of several pretrial motions filed by a defendant in a murder case was dismissed in a hearing Tuesday.

A motion filed for Justin Michael Moran to compel the release of a DNA test by the FBI of another person of interest was denied by Judge Jeffrey Reed.

Moran, 21, and Nathan Wayne Davis, 22, both in custody at the North Central Regional Jail, were indicted in a special session of the grand jury on Oct. 22, 2008, for the December 2006 murder of Roy Matheny of Parkersburg. They were charged by the panel with murder, first-degree robbery, conspiracy to commit robbery and assault during the commission of a robbery upon a person 65 years of age or older.

Eight motions were filed and only five were heard in the four-hour session. Moran and Davis are currently scheduled for a Sept. 29 trial.

Motions for suppression of a defendant's statement and suppression of gruesome photos are to reviewed by Reed prior to a ruling. Motions to bifurcate and sever the defendants for separate trials are on hold since Davis is reported to be in plea negotiations with the state.

An earlier psychological examination of Moran concluded he is capable of understanding the charges against him and he is competent to stand trial.

If convicted of the charges, Moran and Davis face life in prison for the murder charge, not less than 10 years for robbery, one to five years for conspiracy and two to 10 years in prison for the assault charge.

Matheny went missing Dec. 26, 2006. His body was found Dec. 28 in a vacant lot on Staunton Avenue. His abandoned vehicle was found Dec. 27 in the Park Shopping Center.