Craig Liner Monday court appearance recap

A Cleveland man accused of killing his ex-wife was in criminal court again yesterday. 

Charlton Craig Liner, 61, has been held without bond on a first-degree murder charge at the Bradley County Jail since the murder of Karen Liner in January.

Liner appeared in criminal court yesterday before Judge Sandra Donaghy, as questions continue over who will represent him during his trial and how he will pay for his defense.

Liner’s assets—estimated at approximately $3.5 million—remain frozen under a civil court order. That order allowed $150,000 to be released, but most of that has already been spent, including $100,000 paid to defense attorney Gilbert Rogers as a partial retainer. Rogers has said he will not continue to represent Liner unless he receives the remainder of his fee upfront. 

The court heard testimony from Liner’s power of attorney, Brian Collins, who confirmed only about $11,000 remains of the $150,000 allowed to be withdrawn by the Civil Court. Collins also testified that some of the funds were used to pay child support, storage fees, and an apartment lease.

Liner asked to be appointed an attorney by the court. Judge Donaghy questioned how someone with millions in assets could claim to be indigent. She ultimately denied Liner’s request for a court-appointed attorney, saying he has not taken the proper steps through the civil court to free up more of his money for his defense. 

Liner told the court he still wishes to retain Rogers, but without more funding, he may be forced to represent himself or find another attorney willing to take the case.

His trial date is still set for May 12, 2026.

If you missed the hearing, you can watch it on MixTV.TV.