The trial for a Washington man accused of murdering Ketchikan surgeon Dr. Eric Garcia has been delayed until next spring.
Thirty-three-year-old Jordan Joplin was to be tried Nov. 5. His trial recently was moved to Juneau out of concerns that an impartial jury could not be seated in Ketchikan. Now the trial will be May 6, still in Juneau.
In a Friday morning hearing, Superior Court Judge Trevor Stephens heard a request to postpone the trial. According to log notes from the hearing, defense attorney Katrina Larsen told the court that just last week, prosecutors had sent over a large amount of audio recordings that could be used as evidence. She told the court that the defense needs time to go through the approximately 250 hours of phone conversations recorded while Joplin has been incarcerated.
Prosecutor Tim McGillicuddy did not object to the rescheduling request.
Joplin has pleaded not guilty to first- and second-degree murder for Garcia’s March 16, 2017, death. Joplin’s next scheduled hearing is April 12 in Ketchikan Superior Court.
