Anchorage Daily News

The trial for Chris Rogers Jr., accused of hacking to death his father and seriously injuring his father's fiancee with a machete, was pushed back today into July.At a status hearing this afternoon, Palmer District Attorney Roman Kalytiak said two weeks might not be enough time to set aside for Rogers' trial, particularly if he presents an insanity defense. At a previous hearing defense attorney John Richard said he couldn't imagine not using that tactic.

Rogers was represented today by Sam Westergren of the public defender's office, who said an insanity defense is still a possibility. He asked for more time to complete a psychiatric examination of his client, which is scheduled Thursday.

Superior Court Judge Vanessa White gave Westergren until May 30. She also called the trial date of June 30 unrealistic and pushed the date back to July 28.

After today's hearing Kalytiak said the length of the trial will be hard to predict because of the possible insanity defense and how that affects another trial in Anchorage, where Rogers, 28, is accused of shooting and killing one man and injuring another man and woman.

Kalytiak said merging all counts into one trial is a possibility.

Rogers is charged in Palmer with eight felony counts, including murder, attempted murder, assault, vehicle theft and theft.

In Anchorage, Rogers faces separate charges stemming from attacks there the day after the Dec. 2 assaults on his father, Christopher Rogers Sr., and Elann Moren at their home just south of Palmer. A 10-count indictment includes murder, attempted murder, assault, vehicle theft, robbery and weapons misconduct.

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