CHRISTIANSBURG -- Convicted murderer William Morva is expected to appear in Christiansburg by videoconferencing today to testify for the defense in a trial for his brother, Michael Morva, who is charged with helping him escape from the Montgomery County Jail nearly three years ago.

Michael Morva, 29, is charged with one count of conspiring to help a prisoner escape custody and a count of possessing marijuana. A trial is scheduled for 1 p.m. in Montgomery County Circuit Court.

Michael Morva, who served in the U.S. Marines for five years before being honorably discharged, has denied helping his brother escape custody. At a bond hearing in September 2006, he testified that when William Morva mentioned he wanted to escape, he told him "that was ridiculous."

According to a letter in his court file from his Richmond attorney, Jeffrey Oppleman, to the court, Michael Morva asked to have his brother subpoenaed to testify on his behalf.

"My client believes his brother is an important witness," Oppleman wrote.

But William Morva is being held in Sussex 1 State Prison in Waverly, a high-security facility where death row inmates are housed. He received three death sentences for killing two people after his escape. His sentences are under appeal.

A transport order was entered to have William Morva, 27, taken to Montgomery County for his brother's trial, but court officials said it was decided Tuesday afternoon that he could appear by video instead.

Michael Morva is accused of helping his younger brother plan an escape sometime between Jan. 4, when both were held at the Montgomery County Jail, and the day of the escape on Aug. 20, 2006.

William Morva beat the deputy who had escorted him to Montgomery Regional Hospital and fatally shot hospital security guard Derrick McFarland and Cpl. Eric Sutphin of the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office.

Michael Morva was charged that day, but his trial has been postponed because he was found incompetent to stand trial.

He was moved to Central State Hospital, a mental facility in Petersburg, for treatment. He has since been found competent and moved to the Western Virginia Regional Jail.

At least 11 other people have been subpoenaed to testify at today's trial, including eight deputies and police officers, the physician who treated William Morva at the hospital and two employees of Ceritano's restaurant in Blacksburg, where Michael Morva worked as a waiter.

Michael Morva was sentenced in February 2007 to serve eight years in prison on attempted burglary charges. Convictions on those charges often result only in probation, but Montgomery County Commonwealth's Attorney Brad Finch said at trial that Michael Morva was dangerous and fixated on revenge.