Wade murder trial postponed until August, judge rules

The trial was originally scheduled to begin in Fairbanks in March but Wade's defense attorneys filed for an extension.

U.S. District Judge Ralph Beistline wrote that given the efforts of both parties to prepare for trial and "the need to complete mitochondrial DNA testing," the trial should be delayed.

Wade faces the death penalty if convicted. The 29-year-old is accused of the 2007 murder of his Sand Lake neighbor, Mindy Schloss. If he's convicted of a capital crime connected to her killing -- he's charged with carjacking and using a firearm, both capital offenses under federal law when connected to a death -- the same federal jurors then would hear evidence in a phase to decide the penalty.

Jury selection is now scheduled to begin Aug. 23.

Another judge, U.S. Magistrate John Roberts, has rejected Wade's efforts to get the murder and other charges against him dismissed because jailhouse staff opened his legal mail.

There was no claim that the mail was read by the jail staff or that any information was requested by, or communicated to, the prosecution, Roberts wrote.

Find Megan Holland online at adn.com/contact/mholland or call 257-4343.