Wrisinger trial moves to May 11
, News Reporter
11-09-2009
The first-degree murder trial 23 years coming will wait several more months.
Eighth Circuit Court Judge David Miller Thursday morning granted interim Ray County Prosecutor Bryan McMahon’s continuance motion for Ronald W. Wrisinger’s trial on two first-degree murder counts.
The trial will take place May 11-21, 2010, in Carroll County, with a March 3, 2010, discovery deadline.
Wrisinger faces the two counts in connection with the 1986 disappearance of his wife, Sherry, and then-16-year-old daughter, Johnna. Wrisinger was arrested May 28 in Marble Falls, Ark., and returned to Missouri to face the charges. The bodies of Johnna and Sherry have never been found, though Thompson pledged when prosecutor, “We will never stop searching for the bodies.”
McMahon said last week he made the motion because he felt new assistant prosecutor Julie Tolle needed a more proper briefing on the case, should McMahon not win election to become Ray County’s new official prosecutor.
McMahon inherits the case from former prosecutor Jim Thompson, who was recently appointed the 8th Circuit’s new associate judge. Following the proceedings, McMahon offered no further comment.
Wrisinger, looking comfortable in a green sweatshirt and blue jeans, sat beside his legal counsel, John O’Connor and Daniel Lobdell, with family looking on from the audience. Miller granted O’Connor’s request to set Wrisinger’s bond at $50,000. Wrisinger has been under house arrest with electronic monitoring in Buchanan County.
“As far as I’m aware, there’s been no incidence of problems there,” Miller said, referring to Wrisinger’s monitoring.
O’Connor entered a “general objection” to the continuance, but not on any specific grounds. He also had no comment to add after the proceedings.
Wrisinger will face a maximum of life imprisonment if convicted.
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