Plunkett murder trial delayed

Sunday, December 30, 2012

The first-degree murder trial of Sandra Plunkett, a Holts Summit woman charged with the shooting death of her husband, has been delayed.

Callaway County Prosecuting Attorney Chris Wilson asked for the delay after Public Defender Justin Carver revealed his intention to use a battered-spouse syndrome as Plunkett’s defense.

Circuit Judge Gary Oxenhandler, who is the presiding judge of the 13th Judicial Circuit Court, issued the order to delay the trial that had been scheduled to start on Jan. 7 in Callaway County Circuit Court in Fulton.

The prosecutor had pushed for a continuance of the trial because he wants more time for an evaluation of Plunkett regarding the battered spouse syndrome defense. Wilson said the evaluation cannot be completed before the scheduled start of the trial on Jan. 7.

After the public defender agreed to the delay, the judge on Wednesday issued the order postponing the trial.

The jury panel for the trial was scheduled to be selected in Buchanan County and the jurors transported to Callaway County, where they will remain for the duration of the trial.

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