McCluskey murder case to be tried Jan. 22 in Limestone

Published 6:00 am Wednesday, January 17, 2018

The trial of a man accused in the 2015 murder of his ex-wife’s boyfriend is scheduled the week of Jan. 22 in Limestone County.

Jury selection for the trial of Charles “Frankie” McCluskey, 46, of 16601 Zehner Road, Athens, is to begin at 9 a.m. before Circuit Judge Chadwick Wise, records show. McCluskey is charged with murder in the fatal shooting of 41-year-old Ronnie Kyle Jr. following an argument at McCluskey’s mobile home in the Clements community March 4.

Limestone County District Attorney Brian Jones told The News Courier Friday subpoenas have been issued for witnesses to appear in court in the McCluskey case.

Jones said there are only two cases scheduled in Wise’s courtroom for the week of Jan. 22. Records show those cases are McCluskey and a first-degree assault case against Shadeed Abdul Fuqua.

McCluskey, who has pleaded not guilty to the murder charge, has remained free on $30,000 bond since his initial arrest in 2015.

The case

On the day of the shooting, Kyle was looking for his girlfriend, following an argument with her earlier in the day. He had driven to McCluskey’s home about 7:24 p.m. to see if she was there. (Kyle’s girlfriend and McCluskey were once married.) Sheriff Mike Blakely said McCluskey got his single-barrel, 20-gauge shotgun and walked outside after Kyle arrived and repeatedly called for his girlfriend, who was not there.

McCluskey repeatedly told Kyle to leave and the two began to argue. McCluskey fired at Kyle’s windshield, hitting him in the hand and chest. Kyle was declared dead on arrival at Huntsville Hospital.

McCluskey told investigators Kyle was revving his engine and driving forward at him and family members when he fired.