LIBERTY, Mo. (Sept. 10, 2024) – On Tuesday, September 10, a scheduled court appearance for Timothy Haslett Jr. in Clay County was postponed. Haslett faces multiple charges, including kidnapping, rape, and murder. Family members of the victims were present in the courtroom and expressed frustration when it was announced that Haslett would not be appearing. His next hearing is now set for Tuesday, September 17, at 1:30 PM.
Prosecutors are attempting to secure the deposition of a key witness, a young woman who escaped from Haslett’s home on October 8, 2022. Court records show the woman is currently homeless and has struggled with drug abuse, raising concerns about the possibility of her disappearing or being unable to testify in the future.
Judge David Chamberlain, presiding over the hearing, expressed frustration at Haslett’s absence and asked the defense attorney, Tiffany Leuty Winningham, if a trial date should be set. Winningham, a public defender, seemed overwhelmed, noting she had received over 4 terabytes of data earlier in the summer that still required review. Chamberlain acknowledged that a trial likely wouldn’t take place until 2026, which would give the defense ample time to prepare. Winningham, however, requested that the issue be addressed at the next hearing on September 17.
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