The Iowa Supreme Court issued an order today (Thursday) which brings about another delay in the trial of the man accused of sexually abusing a Cedar Rapids girl his brother has already been convicted of killing.
The Iowa Supreme Court filed an order, saying it will review a lower court’s ruling that prohibited prosecutors from showing a videotape in the trial of James Bentley. Bentley is accused of repeatedly molesting Jetseta Gage, the 10-year-old girl who was molested and killed by Bentley’s older brother, Roger, in the spring of 2005. Roger Bentley was convicted of the crime earlier this year.
James Bentley’s trial was supposed to start on Monday in Osceola. Prosectors are trying to get the high court to allow them to show a video in which Jetseta Gage talks with a social worker about how she was repeatedly abused by the younger Bentley over a three-year period. James Bentley’s defense attorneys say showing the video would violate Bentley’s right to confront his accuser.