New lawyer, new date: Davis trial postponed

A change of attorney requires time to review the files. At a hearing on February 20, 2024, Judge Carli Kierny therefore postponed the start of Duane Davis’s trial. Instead of June 3, the proceedings were scheduled to begin on November 4, 2024.

Waiting for evidence

Davis had changed defense attorneys in January. His new lawyer, Carl Arnold, had not yet fully received the prosecution’s evidence. The judge took this into consideration and set the next date for April 23.

Fear of the circus

Davis remained in custody. The judge had permitted house arrest on a $750,000 bail, and he stated he could raise the required ten percent. However, the court demanded a hearing on the origin of the money (a “source hearing”), at which someone would have to testify. The relatives who wanted to help shied away from the public eye. “I’ve got family that is hesitant to come in here and help me out on the bail because of the media and the circus,” Davis said. Arnold expressed confidence that the bail would be posted.

Canceled date

The November date did not hold, see the report of August 27. The presumption of innocence applied.