Murder re-trial postponed

WEST JORDAN — Parley Jeffs Dutson's new attorney isn't ready to defend him, so the previously convicted man will have to wait several months before he can be tried for murder a second time.

Dutson was convicted last year for sexually assaulting and killing his girlfriend, both first-degree felonies, while he was high at a party. But the court overturned his conviction after it was discovered that a juror had been raped when she was a teenager and did not disclose the crime during the jury vetting. Judge Royal I. Hansen determined that her history compromised the integrity of the jury's decision, so Dutson must be tried again.

Since then, Dutson's defense attorney, Brian Gardner, has taken a job out of state, said Dutson's new attorney, Steven Howard. Howard was assigned to the case last week and said he hasn't had a chance to comb through the four large boxes detailing the case's history and evidence.

Hansen set a trial date of Oct. 19-23.

— Michael R. McFall