The trial, moved from Coleman to Taylor County, had been set for March 2. Jones argued that he was ready to go to trial as scheduled, however defense attorneys Bobby Clark and Mike Fouts told the court they cannot schedule two expert witnesses for the March date. Both are key to the defendant's case, they said. Continuing the Thurman trial until June 8 means that the trial of an alleged accomplice also will have to be postponed. A spokesman in Weeks' office said Thursday the Coleman County case will be reset later.
Weeks presides in both counties.
Each defendant faces an eight-count grand jury indictment. Six counts allege capital murder, one murder and one arson. Jones has not said if he will seek the death penalty in either case. The original capital murder indictments against both defendants were thrown out by Judge Weeks for alleged grand jury improprieties, however, Jones later presented the cases to a second grand jury and obtained new indictments. E.W. Scripps Publications , All Rights Reserved.