A Greenville judge listened to the requests of three men accused of the Jan. 7 double homicide in Chappells, but then “respectfully denied” to let them out of jail.

The suspects in the murder, Michael Anton Foster, 21, of 167 Fox Briar Court, Newberry; Victor Maurice Carter, 21, of 231 Twisted Lane, Blair; and Zachery Travorous Bookman, 22, of 657 Meadow Lane, Newberry, all asked Circuit Judge Garrison Hill to set bond for them on Monday afternoon. One by one he denied all three requests.

The threesome is accused of meeting up with Ralph Lovelace Harp, 30, of 221 Cemetery Road, Greenwood, and Donald Eugene Springs Jr., 36, of 2000 Rosenwald St., Saluda, on Jan. 7 for a drug deal at Horne’s Store in Chappells.

Springs and Harp were both shot in the store’s lot, and later found by a passerby.

Assistant Solicitor Austin McDaniel, speaking for the prosecution, said Springs and Harp were killed execution-style due to a drug deal involving more than a pound of marijuana.

He says the murders seemed “more violent“ because drugs were at the center of the dispute, not emotions.

The investigation is ongoing, but McDaniel says it appears that Bookman was the gunman.

A search of Bookman’s home turned up scales, baggies, marijuana and a 9 mm gun hidden behind a tub. Traces of blood were also found in Bookman’s black Honda, McDaniel said.

After leaving the two men fatally shot outside the rural convenience store, Foster, Carter and Bookman fled the area, according to McDaniel. The prosecutor emphasized that this meant the trio is a likely flight risk in the future.

During the infancy of the investigation, deputies linked the crime to Saluda County, where they learned of a potential drug deal and began to track suspects.

McDaniel says witnesses and Carter’s own mother say he was in the area at the time of the murders.

But Carter’s attorney, Charles Verner, argued that Carter was a lifelong resident of South Carolina, has no relatives outside the state and has a pregnant fiancée. He also told the judge that Carter had a low income and could not post a high bond.

McDaniel countered that Carter had two previous convictions for public disorderly conduct and an arrest for a traffic offense.

Wilson Brown, who is representing Foster, said his client is a Newberry County resident and had worked at Louis Rich. Foster, the father of a one-year-old daughter with another child on the way, was working towards being hired at Georgia-Pacific and planning to be married this summer.

Brown asked for a “fair and reasonable bond“ for Foster.

McDaniel stated that Foster was convicted in 2007 of assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature and was sentenced under the youthful offender act. Also, in 2009, Foster was charged with simple possession of marijuana.

“He has shown a past history of violence,“ said McDaniel.

Bookman reportedly has prior convictions of pointing and presenting a firearm, possession of marijuana and shoplifting, according to McDaniel.

Bookman is not yet represented by counsel, but told the judge that he was not guilty.

“This has messed up five families’ lives,“ Donald Springs’ mother, Lorna Springs, told the court, adding the families of the suspects were also suffering. “My heart goes out to the other families.“

She added she had forgiven the suspects but said, “anyone who does what they did do not deserve bond.“

Harp’s cousin, Freddie Lee Wicker Jr., told the court that Harp was a father and planned to get married in June. Harp left behind a daughter and step-children.

“There is no cause (to kill someone) unless their life was in danger,“ said the cousin. “Being a Christian we have to forgive and I pray (the suspects) have asked for forgiveness. If you do set bond, set it so high they could not pay it.“

Hill spoke to the families of the victims and told them there were two things he considered when setting bonds. The first, he said, is if the suspects pose a danger and second is if they are a flight risk.

He then told the court that an illegal activity was taking place before the “horrible crime“ of murder.

He then “respectfully denied” bond. The judge saying that he “respectfully denied” bond is a term meaning he listened to the arguments to set bond, and refused.

While the double homicide investigation continues, more arrests could be made of those who assisted Foster, Carter and Bookman.