Merrill, Iowa — The murder trial of an elderly rural Merrill man who is accused in the shotgun slaying another rural Merrill man this past may has been continued, or in layman’s terms, postponed.
Thomas Knapp, who was 81 at the time of the killing, is accused in the shotgun slaying of 51-year-old Kevin Leroy Juzek, also of rural Merrill. Knapp was originally charged with Domestic Abuse Assault while Displaying or Use of a Weapon. That charge was amended to 1st Degree Murder once Juzek’s autopsy results came back and the Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office and County Attorney completed their investigation.
Knapp was to have a court date of November 11th for a Pretrial Conference in the case, with his trial set for 9:00 am on Tuesday December 15th in Plymouth County District Court in Le Mars.
According to online court records, Knapp’s Pretrial Conference is now scheduled for February 23rd, with his new trial date set for 9:00 am March 9th.
At last report, Knapp remained in the Plymouth County Jail.
