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- Nov. 16, 2009 - 1 dead in home invasion; deputies looking for armed suspects
- Nov. 17, 2009 - Investigators remain tight-lipped about Payson murder
- Nov. 24, 2009 - Family offers reward in last week's murder
- Dec. 23, 2009 - Authorities say murder of Payson man was not random
- Jan. 25, 2010 - Family members named persons of interest in Mortensen slaying
- Jan. 26, 2010 - Friend defends person of interest in Mortensen murder
- Feb. 3 , 2010 - Investigators: Mystery woman may have information on Mortensen murder
- March 3, 2010 - Investigators looking for 32 guns stolen in Payson murder
- March 4, 2010 - Stolen guns could be part of motive for Payson murder
- July 29, 2010 - Deputies make arrests in former BYU professor's murder
- Aug. 2, 2010 - Murder suspects make brief court appearance
- Aug. 17, 2010 - Couple accused of murder to get separate representation
- Aug. 30, 2010 - Prosecutors: Payson man's throat slashed multiple times
- Sept. 27, 2010 - Suspects in Mortensen murder want to stand trial together
- Oct. 6, 2010 - Financial records reportedly under review in Mortensen case
PROVO -- A judge set a trial date in January for Roger and Pamela Mortensen, the couple accused of murdering retired BYU professor Kay Mortensen last November. The date of the trial is something neither defendant is happy about.
Roger and Pamela Mortensen will stand trial beginning Jan. 25, 2011. It's scheduled to last for three weeks, through Feb. 11.
But Roger Mortensen's attorney believes it is not enough time for him to prepare, while Pamela Mortensen's attorney says she wants the speedy trial she is entitled to.
After hearing arguments, the judge said he had little choice but to schedule the trial for January.
"The judge, like you said, when you've got two defendants wanting two different things, his hands are bound a little bit. So, we need to take everything into consideration," said Deputy Utah County Attorney Tim Taylor.
The two defendants may ask for separate trials, which prosecutors plan to oppose. They anticipate calling between 20 and 25 witnesses.
Next month will mark one year since Kay Mortensen was murdered inside his home in Payson Canyon. Roger Mortensen has denied any involvement in his father's death, and his wife also continues to proclaim her innocence.
They remain in the Utah County Jail on $500,000 cash bail each.
A pretrial conference was set for Jan 10.
Both Roger and Pamela were present at Kay Mortensen's home in Payson Canyon on Nov. 16, 2009, when Kay was brutally murdered. During a 911 call that night, Roger told a dispatcher that he found his father in a bathtub with his throat slashed.
The couple told police they were held hostage at the house by men with guns. However, when asked for a description of the men, they couldn't provide one. They were arrested in July.
E-mail: spenrod@ksl.com
