PORT ANGELES — The murder trial of Andrea Freese, which is now set for Jan. 5, is likely to be postponed.
Freese, 33, of Port Angeles was charged in November 2007 with second-degree murder in the July 2007 stabbing death of Charles W. “Bill” Boze, 73.
Her Port Angeles attorney, John Hayden, recently lost his mother and has asked the court for a short continuance.
In a short status hearing on Wednesday, Hayden asked Clallam County Superior Court Judge S. Brooke Taylor to set a new trial date for Jan. 19.
No decision on the trial date was made. Another status hearing was set for next Tuesday at 9 a.m.
The purpose of the status hearings is to pick a trial date when witnesses for both sides are available, Clallam County Prosecuting Attorney Deb Kelly said.
Boze was found dead on the floor of his Port Angeles home after Freese called 9-1-1 and said she stabbed him, Port Angeles police have said.
Freese, who has pleaded not guilty to the murder charge, remained in custody in the Clallam County jail, with bail set at $500,000, on Wednesday.
The trial has been delayed three times in the past year.
A two-week trial was set for Jan. 7 of this year. It was rescheduled for March 24 and July 7 before settling on next year’s date.
Freese was evaluated earlier this year at Western State Hospital in Steilacoom to determine if she is competent to stand trial. Freese and Boze appeared to be platonic acquaintances, police have said.
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-417-3537 or at rob.ollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.
