Judge Agrees to Postpone Woman’s Murder Trial

An appeals court has ruled that the trial of a woman accused of killing her husband with a baseball bat in the couple’s Sylmar condominium should be postponed to allow prosecutors more time to prepare.

In an order issued Wednesday, the 2nd District Court of Appeals said the trial should be put off because the defense lawyer did not give witness statements to the prosecutor within the time required by law and a police officer--a key prosecution witness--was unable to testify due to an illness.

If the judge doubts whether the officer is indeed too ill to testify, he may review the matter, according to the order.

Superior Court Judge L. Jeffrey Wiatt on Wednesday asked prosecutors to determine how much time they will need to prepare for trial and scheduled a hearing for today, according to Sandi Gibbons, spokeswoman for the Los Angeles district attorney’s office.

Jeanie Adair, 38, was released on $250,000 bail two weeks ago, while the appeals court was considering the postponement.

Adair maintains she was attacked by robbers who killed her husband when he inadvertently walked in on a home-invasion.

Prosecutors contend she made up the robbery story, ransacking her own home and injuring herself in order to get away with the slaying. They are seeking a life sentence without the possibility of parole.