Judge closes hearing in Iowa City landlord slaying

A hearing for a man accused of killing a landlord in 2009 didn't continue Thursday as planned, because the judge in the case decided the evidence could affect jury selection in next month's trial if it were submitted in open court.

Sixth Judicial District Judge Sean McPartland said he talked with the attorneys representing Charles Thompson, 19, of Iowa City, who is charged with first-degree murder, to narrow down the intended testimony, but he can't determine the relevance of that testimony until he hears it.

McPartland said the evidence and testimony could hinder seating a fair and impartial jury. The intended evidence may or may not be allowed at trial.

Thompson is asking the court to dismiss the murder charge based on double jeopardy after the court granted the defense a mistrial in September. The hearing on that motion, started in October and was to continue Thursday.

The defense in the hearing from last month claimed the state had withheld evidence that could exonerate Thompson. One or more inmates at the Muscatine County Jail, where Thompson was in custody, told police officers another co-defendant, Justin Marshall, 20, in the case told them Thompson wasn't involved in the shooting death of landlord John Versypt, 64, of Cordova, Ill. on Oct. 8, 2009.

Upon cross examination by the state, the police also said Marshall had told several different versions of what happened that day and who was involved.

McPartland said Thursday the defense could submit further evidence, documents and depositions under seal. He said he would schedule another hearing in the case before trial, if necessary.

Tyler Johnston, Thompson's attorney, made an objection to closing the hearing, but no other comments were made.

Thompson's retrial is set for Dec. 5. Thompson is accused of slaying Versypt while he was working on his units in the Broadway Condominiums. Versypt was shot in the hand and the head during an attempted robbery, according to trial information.

Another co-defendant, Courtney White, also known as "Mow Mow," 23, of Coralville, is

also charged with first-degree murder in the case.