MARION COUNTY — Over the defendant’s objection, the January 25 jury trial scheduled for a Salem woman charged with First Degree Murder in the death of her infant daughter has been postponed until February.
Attorney’s in the case against 23-year-old Christina Thomason estimate her jury trial will take five days before being handed to the jury for deliberations.
(Credit: MCSO)
Thomason was arrested March 25, 2015, and has remained in the Marion County Jail with bail set at $1 million since that time. She’s facing two counts First Degree murder in connection with the death of her 3-month-old daughter Aribella Thomason.
According to Marion County State’s Attorney Matt Wilzbach, allegations indicate Thomason smothered her daughter with blankets because the baby wouldn’t stop crying.
Thomason was in court Thursday with her attorney for a final pre-trial hearing leading up to a January 19 trial date. However, on a motion from the prosecution, the jury trial setting was vacated and reset to February 29, with a final pre-trial hearing scheduled for February 16.
The defense has argued since August that the trial needs a special setting, but Judge Mark Stedelin has ruled the motion for a change of venue will be deferred until after jury selection, which is now scheduled for February 29.