Murder trial for shooting at Marion bar postponed

CEDAR RAPIDS — The murder trial for Duval Walker, accused of punching another man before shooting him in a Marion bar, will not start this week as originally scheduled.

A motion to continue the trial was granted in a hearing Monday. A new date for the trial has yet to be set.

Walker, 29, of Cedar Rapids, is facing charges of first-degree murder, control of a firearm by a felon and going armed with intent in the March 17 killing of Cameron Barnes, 32.

According to a criminal complaint, Walker was captured on surveillance video punching Barnes in the face at Cocktails and Company, 1625 Blairs Ferry Rd., Marion. A fight ensued and Barnes and Walker were separated. Walker then pulled out a hand gun and hid it behind his leg while he charged at Barnes, who he shot once, the complaint says.

Lindsay Garner, Walker’s defense attorney, argued Monday that the prosecution had failed to provide the defense with several pieces of evidence from discovery, including phone records, that could have an impact on the arguments made at trial.

Assistant Linn County Attorney Rena Schulte, in arguing against the continuance, said the prosecution has provided all evidence as it has arrived, but that some has taken a while to collect. Investigators have not finished pulling data from some of the phones associated with the case.

Schulte told the judge the prosecution has been hurrying to prepare evidence in time for the trial, since Walker originally had demanded his right to a speedy trial. If the trial were postponed, Schulte argued, the state might lose some of the witnesses it intended to call, hurting its case. Walker has since waived his right to a speedy trial.

Sixth Judicial District Judge Kevin McKeever granted the motion to continue, stating that the fact evidence still is being gathered constitutes good cause to postpone the trial.

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