There were developments in two high-profile murder cases this morning in Jefferson County Circuit Court.

First, a trial date was set in the case of a man charged with striking and killing two young girls while fleeing police.

Kenielle Finch faces murder charges for the July 25, 2008, fatal hit-and-run in which he allegedly struck Riley Jane Lawrence, 4, and Claudia Faye Wadlington, 5, as they crossed Floyd Street using a crosswalk. The 26-year-old defendant’s trial is scheduled to begin Dec. 1, 2009.

In the capital murder case of James Quisenberry Jr. and Kenneth Williams, public defenders again asked the court to prohibit the prosecution from presenting redacted statements made by their clients regarding the shooting death of Earon Harper. The pair is accused of killing Harper, whom they claim they visited at her home on May 18, 2006, in an attempt to buy prescription drugs. In addition to shooting Harper, the prosecutor says they also shot and severely injured the woman’s 2-year-old daughter, who survived.

After their arrest, both men blamed the other for pulling the trigger. The defendants will be tried together, and their lawyers are again seeking to prevent the commonwealth from presenting to the jury segments of their lengthy interviews with police. Judge James Shake — who already has denied this motion once — will take the matter under advisement. A trial in this case is scheduled to begin March 27.