A delay could be coming in the trial date of Illinois man Harold Jett, who is charged with the murder of his aunt and Trigg County resident Mary Dullenty.
During Wednesday’s afternoon session of Trigg County Circuit Court, a pair of new co-counselors and public defenders entered into the case on Jett’s behalf: Amie Martinez of Madisonville and Rick Lawniczak of Nicholasville.
Originally slated to be defended by Attorney Michael J. Bufkin of Shelbyville, Martinez noted Jett’s case had been transferred to them — and though considerable work had been completed, there was “still much to be done.”
Another pre-trial conference is set for 9 AM, January 11, 2023 — and Martinez said her team plans to file a motion to move the trial date back considering “the lack of time to prepare,” and that an ex parte matter seeking funds for expert defense still needed to be addressed.
At the moment, Jett’s trial is planned for August 21, 2023.
Alongside charges for murder and first-degree strangulation, Jett has been tabbed with first-degree evading police, speeding 26 miles an hour or greater and burglary in the first degree — all stemming from an October 2021 incident that ended with Jett’s arrest at Dullenty’s Hilltop Street residence, and the December 2021 grand jury indicting him.
Jett remains incarcerated at the Christian County Jail on a bond of $1 million.