Trial postponed for suspect in Iowa City landlord murder case

The first-degree murder trial of one of three men charged in the shooting death of an Iowa City landlord in 2009 has been postponed from May 22 to a date that has not yet been determined.

Justin Marshall's attorney last week filed a motion to continue the trial, and Judge Sean McPartland granted that motion Friday, according to court records.

Marshall, through his attorney, also last week entered a written plea of not guilty to a charge of first-degree murder, and he waived his right to a speedy trial for one year, court records show.

The 21-year-old suspect is accused of killing John Versypt, 64, of Cordova, Ill., on Oct. 8, 2009, as the landlord checked in on his condominiums in south Iowa City. Versypt, according to police, was shot and killed during an attempted robbery while he was working on one of his units in the Broadway Condominiums.

Versypt was shot in his right hand and in his head, according to trial information.

Charles Thompson, 19, of Iowa City, was first to be arrested in connection with the slaying in 2009. He originally was charged with first-degree murder and was being tried on that charge in September when a judge granted a mistrial after the prosecution played a portion of a videotape that had been ruled inadmissible.

Thompson was facing a new trial in December, but he pleaded guilty a week before to accessory after the fact, an aggravated misdemeanor. His sentencing is set for June 11.

As part of the plea deal, Thompson agreed to testify against Marshall, according to his attorney.

A third co-defendant in the case, Courtney White, 23, of Coralville, was arrested on suspicion of first-degree murder in October. His trial is scheduled for Sept. 18.

If convicted, Marshall and White face mandatory life sentences in prison.