TULSA, Okla. (AP) — A Tulsa County judge says the trial of a man accused of killing a businessman three years ago will begin next week.
According to a story in Saturday's Tulsa World, Terrico Bethel told District Judge Tom Gillert on Friday that his team wasn't ready to proceed. But Gillert said jury selection will start on Monday.
Prosecutors have charged Bethel with first-degree murder in the September 2008 fatal shooting of 63-year-old Neal Sweeney. Three others have been charged in what investigators believe was a murder for hire.
Gillert also denied a defense motion to disqualify District Attorney Tim Harris from the case because he was appointed to serve temporarily as an assistant federal prosecutor.
He disagreed that being appointed to a second public office disqualified Harris from serving in the state position.