Iowa City man facing second-degree murder charge want trial delayed

The attorney for an Iowa City man facing a second-degree murder charge in connection with his adopted son's death, is hoping to reset his trial.

Brian Dykstra, 32, formerly of Iowa City and now of Central, S.C., is scheduled to be in Johnson County District Court on Aug. 17. His attorney, Leon Spies, filed a motion Friday to continue the trial and pretrial conference.

On Aug. 13, 2005, officers were sent to Dykstra's residence at 918 Ginter Ave., after receiving an abandoned 911 call. A dispatcher called back and spoke with Dykstra, who said his 21-month-old adopted son, Isaac, was possibly having a “little seizure” and had difficulty breathing.

Emergency crews found Isaac unconscious on the living room floor, with labored breathing and apparent head injuries with visible bruising. Isaac was taken by ambulance to University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. He was pronounced brain-dead the next day.

An investigation ended in August 2008, and Dykstra surrendered to police Aug. 9, 2008. He paid the $15,000 bail and left the Johnson County Jail that day.

Second-degree murder is a Class B felony punishable by up to 50 years in prison.