Wichita will be site of new Waddell trial
Four-day trial expected
By Bobbi Mlynar
Friday, January 25, 2008
The second trial of Kenneth Waddell will be held in Sedgwick County District Court in Wichita.
Waddell had been convicted of raping a child, among other charges.
Waddell's retrial was to have begun on Tuesday. However, a questionnaire completed by potential jurors showed that approximately half of those summoned for duty had some knowledge of the case, and the defense again requested Waddell be granted a change of venue.
Lyon County Attorney Marc Goodman did not object.
Waddell's conviction on the original charges had been overturned by the Kansas Court of Appeals. The appeals court ruled that Waddell's constitutional rights had been violated when the young victim in the case was allowed to testify by videotaped interview, rather than during the trial itself.
The prosecution appealed the decision to the Kansas Supreme Court, which refused to hear the appeal.
Ron Keefover, spokesman for the Office of Judicial Administration, said this afternoon that the retrial will begin Feb. 19 and is expected to run through Feb. 22.
tillie (anonymous) says...
I'm SO glad we are concerned about the perpetrator and NOT the VICTIM here!!! Now that poor KID has to be "violated" once more!!! Geez, get a CLUE people!!!
January 28, 2008 at 11:13 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )