The federal murder trial of an Atlanta man accused of kidnapping and killing a restaurant owner in Collegedale, Tenn., has been delayed because of the defendant’s attorney’s health.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Chris Poole said Rejon Taylor now will be tried Aug. 25.
“(Attorney) Bill Ortwein has some health issues and will be unable to try it in April,” Mr. Poole said.
Mr. Ortwein could not be reached Friday for comment.
According to court records, Mr. Ortwein takes medication for back pain after surgery that has prevented him from working on Mr. Taylor’s case.
“Additionally, Mr. Ortwein was informed March 10 that he suffers from either a bulging disk or acute arthritis,” according to a motion to continue the trial date filed by Mr. Taylor’s attorneys.
Mr. Poole said he reviewed the motion and the attached affidavits and does not oppose the delay.
Mr. Taylor, 23, is one of three men accused of kidnapping Violette restaurant owner Guy Luck from the parking lot of his business in the Buckhead neighborhood of Atlanta on Aug. 6, 2003, and killing him in Collegedale when he tried to overcome his attackers.
Federal authorities said they are seeking the death penalty against Mr. Taylor.
The other two defendants, Sir Jack Mathews, 24, and Joey Marshall, 22, pleaded guilty Nov. 16, 2006, and have agreed to cooperate with authorities during Mr. Taylor’s trial.
Chief U.S. District Court Judge Curtis L. Collier said Mr. Mathews and Mr. Marshall likely will spend the rest of their lives in prison because the federal sentencing guidelines call for a life term.
There is no parole in the federal prison system.
Hamilton County Sheriff’s Detective Chris Chambers testified at the previous hearing that Mr. Mathews shot Mr. Luck in the arm as he tried to get free, and Mr. Taylor fired several more shots, one of which struck Mr. Mathews.
Detective Chambers said Mr. Mathews became a suspect after authorities learned that he received medical treatment for a gunshot wound at Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta.
Mr. Mathews told DeKalb County, Ga., detectives that he was shot while being robbed, but investigators found no signs of a crime or witnesses.
A bullet removed from Mr. Mathews’ body matched bullets removed from Mr. Luck, records show.
Mr. Taylor also is charged with masterminding a failed escape attempt from the Hamilton County Jail.
WHAT’S NEXT
A final pretrial conference will be held Aug. 1 for Rejon Taylor. He is scheduled for trial Aug. 25 in the 2003 kidnapping and killing of Atlanta restaurant owner Guy Luck.
Source: U.S. District Court
