Judge won’t continue murder trial of Bobbie Little

CEDAR RAPIDS - A judge denied to continue a murder trial Monday, saying a state's expert witness had plenty of time to make arrangements for an ill family member, so he can testify next month during the trial.

Sixth Judicial District Judge Marsha Bergan made another ruling against the prosecution in the case against Bobbie Little, 32, of Cedar Rapids, charged with first-degree murder. A ruling last month will prevent Assistant Linn County Attorney Nic Scott from using evidence of a confession made by Little to a police investigator, admitting that he stabbed and killed his 'best friend,” Shanna Beyhl, 37, at her Cedar Rapids apartment in a 'rage” over drugs on April 4, 2014, because Bergan said Little's rights were violated.

Scott in this motion to continue the trial told the court the prosecution's expert, Dr. Michael Taylor, couldn't appear last week during the Edward Cusic murder trial because Taylor had an ill family member. The prosecution has another expert willing to evaluate Little and produce a report, but it's not possible by the Jan. 4, trial date.

During the Cusic trial, Taylor told another judge he couldn't leave the bedside of his ill wife, who had a serious condition and couldn't be left alone. Taylor, a medical doctor and psychologist, said he wouldn't put his wife in the hospital and couldn't leave her to testify. The prosecution had to find another expert witness because Cusic, who was convicted, claimed he had diminished capacity when he killed his mother with a crowbar in 2012.

District officials recently said judges are taking more control over trial management and scrutinizing motions for continuances for good cause to make the courts more efficient.

Bergan said there's nothing in Scott's motion to say Taylor couldn't appear at this trial, and he has enough time to make arrangements for his family member, so he can testify.