Man accused in 2022 Morristown murder due in court

HYDE PARK, Vt. (WCAX) – The man accused in a 2022 murder in Morrisville is due back in court Wednesday.

Seth Brunell, 45, is accused of killing 29-year-old Fern Feather in April of 2022.

Brunell told police he had been released from a mental health ward and friends say Feather had found him walking barefoot and offered him a ride.

Brunell claims Feather made sexual advances toward him and he acted in self-defense, stabbing Feather with a 12-inch knife.

Investigators have looked into whether the murder was linked to Feather’s gender identity but in June conceded that hate crime charges were unlikely.

Prosecutors have pushed for a trial start date in October or November