LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) —A 23-year-old man who has been in jail for five years awaiting trial in a Lawrence murder case will wait longer, after a judge ordered more testing in the case.
Rontarus Washington is charged with first-degree murder and aggravated battery in the November 2014 death of 19-year-old Justina Altamirano Mosso. The Lawrence Journal-World reports a trial has been delayed several times for various reasons. The first trial in September 2019 ended in a hung jury and a second trial was scheduled to begin this month.
The latest delay revolves around fingernail clippings from Mosso. During a hearing Monday, defense attorneys argued for more time to have the evidence tested.