Accident – Death – Obituary News :
Edneyville Man on Trial for Double Homicide in Buncombe County Superior Court
An Edneyville man is currently on trial in Buncombe County Superior Court, facing the possibility of life imprisonment for the tragic shooting deaths of Sandy Elizabeth Torrey and Bryan Emmanuel Khopkar in 2022. The trial commenced on March 5, with Godiet Corral facing two charges of first-degree murder after the bodies of Torrey, 26, and Khopkar, 39, were discovered on December 19, 2022, inside a vehicle parked at a Shell-branded gas station on Mills Gap Road in Arden.
Defense attorney Ted Besen revealed that the state plans to present 22 witnesses during the trial, which is anticipated to continue until the middle of the following week. Among the witnesses who have already testified is Corral’s codefendant, Cody Wayne Dockins, who was present in the car at the time of the fatal incident and is also facing two charges of first-degree murder. Dockins’s trial date has not yet been scheduled, as mentioned by defense attorney Sam Snead.
During the trial proceedings, a 911 caller recounted his experience following the shooting. The caller reported hearing three gunshots at approximately 6:17 a.m. and observed two individuals fleeing from a brown Volvo parked near the gas station. The caller’s statement to the Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office indicated that upon approaching the vehicle at around 6:18 a.m., he found the driver injured but still conscious, holding a Glock pistol, while Torrey was slumped over inside the car.
Testimony from the Codefendant, Cody Wayne Dockins
As the sole surviving individual who was present in the vehicle at the time of the incident, Dockins provided a detailed account of the events leading up to the tragic occurrence. Dockins testified that Corral had visited his residence earlier that morning, where they engaged in recreational drug use. The duo, accompanied by Khopkar, embarked on a journey to the Cascades hotel in Hendersonville, with plans to retrieve a missing item and pick up a female acquaintance.
Dockins claimed that an altercation ensued within the vehicle as they approached Mills Gap Road, with Khopkar expressing concerns about the individuals at the hotel and their ages. Tensions escalated, leading Khopkar to pull into the gas station parking lot, prompting further confrontations. Dockins described Khopkar’s behaviour as erratic and agitated, culminating in a series of fatal gunshots that claimed Khopkar’s life.
According to Dockins’s testimony, he fled the scene following the shooting, eventually seeking refuge in Georgia before being apprehended by U.S. Marshals upon his return to North Carolina.
Current Status of the Four Individuals Involved
Dockins and Corral, both arrested in connection with the double homicide, are currently detained at the Buncombe County Detention Facility without bond. Additionally, Russell Allen Squire, charged as an accessory after the fact, remains incarcerated with a bond set at $113,000, awaiting his next court appearance on March 11.
Christine Nicole Moore, the fourth individual implicated in the case, had her charges dismissed by District Attorney Todd Williams on June 2, 2023, after being accused of aiding Dockins in evading law enforcement following the incident.
Stay updated on this ongoing trial as more details unfold in the Buncombe County Superior Court. For further developments and news coverage, follow Asheville Citizen Times for the latest updates..