Cruise Ship Murder Trial Delayed

   September 14, 2017 ,   Accidents

The October 23 murder trial for a St.George man who was accused of killing his wife during Alaskan cruise in July aboard Emerald Princess, will be delayed due to a motion filed on Friday in federal court.

The defense counsel for 39-year-old Kenneth Manzanares filed an unopposed motion to declare this case complex and unusual, allowing the trial to be scheduled outside the 70-day requirement pursuant to Speedy Trial Act.

The motion was agreed upon by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jack Schmidt.

In the filing, federal defender Rich Curtner cited a number of reasons the case should be declared complex.

He wrote that the government had yet to determine whether it would seek the death penalty. According to the government, approx 200 recorded interviews were conducted. The USCG has prepared more than 100 written reports.

Curtner further noted that witnesses lived all over the continental USA, and the federal investigation was ongoing.