By LeAnn R. Ralph
MENOMONIE — A three-week trial scheduled to start April 3 for a 21-year-old woman accused in the death of Alexander Woodworth in the Town of Spring Brook last March has been rescheduled for October.
Ezra J. McCandless appeared with her attorney, Aaron A. Nelson, before Judge James Peterson for a motion hearing in Dunn County Circuit Court March 22.
Nelson asked the court to grant a motion to reschedule the trial because he had received additional evidence in the case that day.
Richard Dufour, the assistant state attorney general who is prosecuting the case, said the state would need five days to present evidence at McCandless’s trial.
Nelson said he would need four days to present evidence at the trial.
Judge Peterson granted the motion to continue and set a deadline of April 26 to file any Daubert challenges with the court.
In a Daubert challenge, the defense attorney or the prosecution asks for a hearing before the judge to challenge the validity and admissible testimony of expert witnesses proposed to be used by the opposing side.
Judge Peterson rescheduled the three-week McCandless trial for October 14 to November 1.
Nelson and Dufour were instructed to check with witnesses to make sure the new trial dates would work for them.
Additional motion hearings in the case are scheduled for April 4, April 5, June 18 and September 20.
The body of Alexander Woodworth was found in a car identified as belonging to McCandless in the Town of Spring Brook March 23, 2018. According to the preliminary autopsy report, Woodworth had been stabbed 16 times.
The owner of a residence in the Town of Spring Brook called 911 the afternoon of March 22 when a young woman came to his house with torn clothes, muddy pants, no shoes and blood on her face and hands.
McCandless is charged with a single count of first degree intentional homicide with a modifier of use of a dangerous weapon, a Class A felony which carries a mandatory penalty, if convicted, of life in prison.
Bail was set for McCandless at $250,000 cash on March 29, 2018.
McCandless remained in custody at the time of the March 22 court hearing.
McCandless had previously pleaded not guilty and not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect but withdrew the plea of not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect at a court hearing on February 6.
