Murder trial of man accused of killing cab driver will be reset

CEDAR RAPIDS - A judge continued the murder trial Thursday for a Cedar Rapids man accused of killing a local cab driver but the new date won't be set until a change of venue hearing is conducted.

Johnathan Mitchell, 33, charged with first-degree murder, filed a motion for a change of venue, claiming he couldn't get a fair trial in Linn County because of extensive pre-trial publicity and gossip, rumors and speculation by area residents.

Tyler Johnston, Mitchell's attorney, asked the court to delay the change of venue hearing for a week to 10 days because

he hadn't received videotape from local television stations, which show news coverage of the Mitchell case.

Johnston in his motion said he also plans to submit newspaper articles to support his argument of that pre-trial publicity has tainted the jury pool.

Sixth Judicial District Judge Robert Sosalla granted his request and also granted the defense's continuance of the trial, which was set to start Aug. 15. The state didn't resist the requests.

The attorneys were going to discuss a date for the change of venue hearing after today's proceedings.

Mitchell is accused of killing a Century Cab driver, Cathy Stickley, 54, April 29. Stickley was found dead by her vehicle in the 1500 block alley between Second and Third avenues SE, according to a criminal complaint. She died of multiple stab wounds to her neck and head.

Mitchell at the time of her attack was out on a $10,000 bond for a previous charge of beating a man near Coe College last Sept. 25.

Mitchell remains in jail on a $1 million cash bond.