Rachelle Waterman was a 16-year-old high school student in November 2004 when she was accused of conspiring with two former boyfriends, Jason Arrant and Brian Radel, to kill Lauri Waterman. The 48-year-old woman's body was found by a hunter north of Craig, a small fishing and logging town on Prince of Wales Island.
Rachelle Waterman's first trial ended in February 2006 with a hung jury. After the jury deadlocked, a mistrial was declared and the indictment against Waterman was thrown out, as well as her statements to police, which were an important part of the state's evidence.
The Alaska Court of Appeals restored parts of Waterman's statement and Ketchikan District Attorney Stephen West obtained a second indictment.
Superior Court Judge William Carey on Wednesday set a new trial date of Jan. 18 in Ketchikan, the Ketchikan Daily News reported. He also said he would make provisions to move the trial if a jury cannot be seated.
Prosecutors say Lauri Waterman's killers botched an attempt to break her neck and make her death look like a drunken-driving crash. They allegedly burned her minivan with her body inside.
Both men pleaded guilty to first-degree murder and agreed to testify at Rachelle Waterman's trial. They are serving prison terms.
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