Rios retrial postponed until the holiday season
The retrial of a former Columbia police officer that was convicted of killing an MU student in 2005, previously scheduled for next week, has been moved to Dec. 1.
Special Prosecutor Morley Swingle requested a continuance in the retrial of Steven Rios on Friday after Rios' attorneys informed Swingle that they would call four expert witnesses to the stand, including a crime scene reconstructionist, a medical examiner, a DNA expert and a forensic entomologist.
In a letter to the Boone County Circuit Clerk, Swingle said he was informed about the new witnesses by Rios' counsel after business hours on August 7. He wrote that he was given an inadequate amount of time -- five business days -- to conduct a "competent, adequate and professional job" of knwing what the witnesses were going to say on the stand and preparing rebuttal evidence for their claims.
Swingle wrote that the defense's "last-minute surprise" would prevent the prosecution from getting "justice in the case."
The trial will be held in Boone County after jury selection has been completed in Clay County.
Police Beat could not reach Gillis Leonard, Rios’ attorney, today for comment.