Murder trial for teen reset

The murder trial for a 17-year-old transient charged with first-degree murder in the October shooting death of landlord John Versypt in southeast Iowa City has been reset to September.

Charles W.C. Thompson, no permanent address, was charged with fist-degree murder following a nearly four-month investigation after Versypt, 64. of Cordova, Ill, was found dead from a gunshot wound to the head on Oct. 8 in the hallway at the Broadway Condominiums, 1958 Broadway St.

Thompson's trial is now set for Sept. 20. Under Iowa law, Thompson was automatically charged as an adult.

Iowa City police Sgt. Denise Brotherton said several witnesses identified Thompson as being involved in the homicide. Brotherton also said Thompson's clothing matched that of one of the people seen fleeing the area after Versypt was shot. Lab results showed the clothes Thompson was wearing at the time of the killing contained components of gunshot residue, police said.