Kansas City Star
http://www.kansascity.com/
By TONY RIZZO, The Kansas City Star
The trial scheduled for next month in the child-abuse death of Brian Edgar was rescheduled today for Sept. 15.
The delay was sought by attorneys for the boy’s father, Neil Edgar Sr., who earlier had pushed for trial on June 23.
Neil Edgar, his wife, Christy Edgar, and the family’s baby sitter Chasity Boyd are charged with first-degree felony murder in the death in December of 9-year-old Brian.
He died at the family’s Overland Park house after being bound with duct tape overnight as a punishment for stealing food, according to preliminary hearing testimony.
The three defendants also are charged with abusing two of the couple’s other children.
All three were arraigned April 17 in Johnson County District Court. Neil Edgar had to be tried within 90 days of that date because he is custody solely on the Johnson County charges.
Boyd and Christy Edgar are also in jail, but the same time constraint does not apply in their cases because they also face child-abuse charges in Wyandotte County.
Neil Edgar’s lawyer, Carl Cornwell, previously said his client would not waive his right to a speedy trial. But at today’s hearing, Kelli Breer, a lawyer from Cornwell’s office, said they were seeking more time to prepare Neil Edgar’s defense.
Bob Thomas, who represents Christy Edgar, and Robert Kuchar, the lawyer for Boyd, said they did not object to the new trial date. District Attorney Paul Morrison also said that he did not object.