Iowa City landlord murder trial to start this month

IOWA CITY -The murder trial for an 18-year-old Iowa City man accused in the slaying of an Iowa City landlord remains on track to start Sept. 19 in Johnson County District Court.

Charles W. Thompson, charged with first-degree murder, is accused of shooting and killing John Versypt, 64, of Cordova, Ill. in September 2009.

Versypt was found dead from a gunshot wound to the head Oct. 8, in the hallway of the Broadway Condominiums, 1958 Broadway St. Police discovered his body lying in the hallway with a gun next to him after receiving a call that a male had been shot in the building.

Thompson was charged following a four-month investigation.

The trial is expected to last two weeks, attorneys said Thursday during a pre-trial conference. Sixth Judicial District Judge Sean McPartland set some deadlines for attorneys for additional motions and they will have a telephone conference Sept. 13 to make sure there are no problems.

Police believe Versypt's shooting occurred during an attempted robbery. Several witnesses identified Thompson as being involved and lab results showed clothes Thompson was wearing at the time of the shooting contained components of gunshot residue, according to police.

Justin A. Marshall, 20, also is charged with first-degree murder in the case.

Marshall,

previously a material witness in the case, was

taken into custody last month in Texas and extradited back to Iowa.