Retrial in I.C. landlord slaying will start next week

IOWA CITY - The second murder trial for a man accused of killing a landlord two years ago is on track to start next week in Johnson County District Court.

During a pretrial conference Monday in the case of Charles Thompson, 19, of Iowa City, the attorneys and judge discussed pending motions and jury selection.

Thompson, charged with first-degree murder, is accused of killing landlord John Versypt, 64, of Cordova, Ill., while he was working on his units in the Broadway Condominiums on Oct. 8, 2009.

This will be a retrial for Thompson. A judge granted a mistrial in September after Johnson County Attorney Janet Lyness played for the jury a portion of a videotape that had been previously ruled inadmissible.

The defense on Monday asked the court to not allow any of that video to be played in the retrial, saying many portions of it were prejudicial and irrelevant. The video shows a police interview of Thompson.

However, 6th Judicial District Judge Sean McPartland said the video with redacted portions will be allowed. He said the jury will be instructed that questions being asked by a Division of Criminal Investigations agent in the video aren't evidence.

The trial is expected to last two weeks.

Justin Marshall, 20, and

Courtney White, also known as “Mow Mow,” 23, of Coralville, also are charged with first-degree murder in the case and will be tried in 2012.