PASCO, Wash.- Nearly two years after Franklin County prosecutors charged a woman with first degree murder for the shooting death of her mother, her lawyer says starting the trial on time is "an illusion."
Tashia Stuart's attorneys Thursday expressed their frustration to Superior Court Judge Cameron Mitchell, saying the state crime lab has yet to turn over evidence to defense experts. The evidence includes ballistic tests and blood spatter reports.
Prosecutor Shawn Sant says only minimal work remains and forensic experts should have the evidence in defense hands in a few weeks at most. But Peter Konig told Mitchell in his experience with the state crime lab, the evidence would not be back in time for the defense to be ready for the February trial.
Mitchell set a November 15 deadline for prosecutors to turn over the evidence to Stuart's defense team.
Pasco Police arrested Stuart in March 2011 after she shot Judy Hebert, her adoptive mother. Stuart claims self defense, saying Hebert had come after her with a hatchet.
