Burlington, IA: Trial reset for Iowan charged with killing ex-wife

Associated Press

7:34 AM CDT, October 8, 2009

BURLINGTON, Iowa


The trial of a Burlington man accused of killing his ex-wife and setting her house on fire last winter has been delayed because his defense attorney is ill.

Fifty-nine-year-old Dennis Richards is charged with second-degree murder and second-degree arson in the death of Cyd Richards on Jan. 4.

A judge on Wednesday rescheduled the trial, which had been set for Oct. 13, to Oct. 20 after learning Richards' attorney had fallen ill.

The move allows a substitute attorney to be ready in case Richards' court-appointed attorney, James Carter, needs additional time to recover.