Firefighter
trial delayed
The trial of Jason Hendrix, the Edgerton firefighter
charged with murder in the death of Dearborn firefighter
Travis Brown, has been delayed again.
A Platte County jury is not expected to hear the case
until February. Prosecution and defense attorneys both
have requested more time to prepare.
Judge Rex Gabbert of Clay County granted the request
last week in Platte County Circuit Court to delay the
trial until Feb. 10. Hendrix, 27, is charged with second
degree murder in the death of Travis Brown. Brown died
in June of 2001 when the tanker truck in which he was
riding overturned while on the way to a fire that Hendrix
allegedly started.
Hendrix is also charged with second degree arson, first
degree property damage and five counts of negligently
setting fire to a woodland, cropland or grassland. He
has pled innocent to the charges.
Special prosecutor Patrick Peters and defense attorney
Bert Godding requested the delay because of evidence issues
that need to be addressed.
The judge also heard a defense motion to dismiss the
second degree murder charge. The judge took the motion
under advisement and both sides are to present briefs
in the next two weeks.
A hearing is scheduled to be held Oct. 18 to discuss
the evidence issues, and Gabbert may rule on the defense
motion to dismiss the murder charge at that time.
|
