A man from the northern Iowa town of Manly was scheduled to have his sexual abuse trial start today but will instead have a judge decide his fate in a “trial on the minutes.”
Twenty-eight-year-old Tyler Wirtjes, along with 19-year-old Jason Walker of Manly and 20-year-old Zachary Patterson of Mooresville, North Carolina, are accused of being involved in a sexual assault at Wirtjes’ residence on December 5th of 2010.
It’s the same home where authorities were called the next day to investigate the death of Wirtjes’ wife, Brigett. Wirtjes is facing two charges of third-degree sexual abuse. A “trial on the minutes” means the judge will review court documents and make a ruling on whether or not Wirtjes is guilty or not guilty.
By Bob Fisher, KRIB, Mason City