Zachary Holly's murder trial scheduled for November

Zachary Holly at the Benton County courthouse.
Zachary Holly at the Benton County courthouse.

Zachary Holly's murder trial has been scheduled for November.

Holly, 29, is charged with capital murder, kidnapping, rape and residential burglary in connection with six-year-old Jersey Bridgeman's death.

His trial was slated to begin on July 29, but prosecutors and defense attorneys agreed that a delay was necessary.

Holly's defense team has been working to obtain records related to Holly's childhood in Bakersfield, Calif.

Kent McLemore, one of Holly's attorneys, told Circuit Judge Brad Karren that he may receive the records from California Department of Human Services in the next 45 days. McLemore was concerned that neither the defense nor prosecutors would have time to dwell into the records with the July trial date. McLemore said the records could lead to further investigations by both sides.

McLemore requested a new trial date.

Stuart Cearley, chief deputy prosecutor, agreed with McLemore and told the judge that the delay is in the "best interest of justice."

Karren wanted to know whether the child's family had been notified of the situation.

Stephanie McLemore, deputy prosecutor, told the judge that the family would like the process to move quicker, but prosecutors had explained the reasons for the delay.

Karren granted the motion and cancelled the July 29 trial.

Holly's jury trial is now scheduled to begin Nov. 3. The trial is expected to last at least three weeks.

Jersey's body was found Nov. 20, 2012 in an abandoned house next to Holly's home. Holly lived next door to Jersey's family on Southwest A Street, and he and his wife sometimes baby-sat Jersey and her younger sister.

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