The defense and prosecution held a brief formal hearing Monday to admit a new witness to a case involving a Holts Summit woman arrested for the slaying of her husband, a former Jefferson City police officer.
Callaway County Prosecuting Attorney Chris Wilson said the hearing in Sandra Plunkett's pre-trial process was "a formality of something both sides know is going to happen," and Plunkett herself was not present.
"There are a number of witnesses whose names are listed, and obviously as the investigation rolls on and attorneys are sharing their material with one another, additional names come up," he said. "All it was, was a name came up where they may call the witness; it just moved to allow the court to endorse a witness."
Plunkett was arrested on first-degree murder charges in 2011 following the shooting death of her husband, retired Jefferson City Police Officer Paul Plunkett, on Jan. 1 of that year.
Plunkett originally told officers she was outside her home and witnessed a man in camouflage with a gun walking down the street and entered to find her husband shot in the back of the head.
According to a probable cause statement, Plunkett later changed the story and confessed to the killing, showing law enforcement officers a rifle she had discarded.
Plunkett's public defender stated intent to use the battered woman defense last year.
The trial is scheduled to begin Jan. 6, 2014, after the selection of a jury from Buchanan County.