There’s a delay in the start of trial for the 24-year-old man accused of murdering a popular northeast Iowa football coach. Mark Becker is charged with first degree murder. Witnesses say he shot Aplington-Parkersburg coach Ed Thomas to death in June, in the school’s temporary weight training room.
Becker’s attorney has indicated she’ll pursue an insanity defense. The trial itself was scheduled to start today, with jury selection. However, the judge decided to delay the start of the trial ’til Wednesday because of the snow that had been forecast for the region. Forecasts predicted as much as a foot of snow.
About 220 people have been called as potential jurors in the case. Jury selection is now scheduled to start at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday. Announcer out: Jury selection is being conducted in the Community Center in Shell Rock. Once a jury is seated, the trial will be held at the Butler County Courthouse in Allison.