Domestic violence trial delayed for Gregerson

A one-day jury trial for Catherine Elin Gregerson on two misdemeanor charges was continued Friday, although her attorney said he was ready to go ahead with a trial and expected that any jury would not find Gregerson guilty.

"Salt Lake City (the prosecuting agency) said they wanted a continuance so they could contact some other people," her lawyer, Delano Findlay, said.

Cathering Gregerson is the wife of Craig Roger Gregerson, 20, who is charged with capital murder in the July death of 5-year-old Destiny Norton, whose body was found in a storage container in Craig Gregerson's house. Catherine Gregerson, 23, was not living there at the time. She is charged with criminal mischief and domestic violence in the presence of a child, both class A misdemeanors.

Findlay said the charges emerged from an April 27 incident in which Catherine Gregerson, who was separated from her husband, returned to visit him, bringing their infant daughter. Findlay said Craig Gregerson grabbed the baby, yelled that his wife would never see the child again, and ran inside their home, locking the doo. Catherine Gregerson kicked in a screen door, which Findlay said was in dilapidated condition anyway, to get the baby back.

"I don't think a jury would convict her — not because her husband is Craig Gregerson, but because of the things that happened. I think they charged the wrong person," Findlay said.

Findlay, who has described Catherine Gregerson as a "battered wife" in court documents in another case, said the past year has been difficult for his client, but she is getting stronger and healthier.

Catherine Gregerson, who has previously said she wants to place the baby for adoption with a family that now is caring for the child, said Friday that she is seeing a therapist and "wants to get her life back."

Her next court date is Jan. 24.

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