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MANTI — The case against a man accused of killing a Mt. Pleasant couple in their home has moved very slowly since prosecutors plan on pursuing the death penalty.
"When you have two quality people that lost their lives at the hands of another, you certainly have an important cause," said Sanpete County Attorney Brody Keisel.
That's why Keisel said that seeking justice for Woody and Ann Fullwood, the couple killed four years ago, takes not only time but also patience.
Since their deaths at the end of 2011, prosecutors have had to wait for Logan McFarland to be prosecuted for crimes in Nevada before he could be extradited. Since he arrived in Utah in January of this year, it has taken time to get qualified defense attorneys on board, since prosecutors intend to seek the death penalty.
On Wednesday, attorneys told the judge they will be ready for a preliminary hearing in March when the judge will decide if there is enough evidence against McFarland for a trial.
"We look forward to having that hearing," Keisel said. "We expect it to happen. We don't see anything that would keep it from happening in the middle of March."
If McFarland is ordered to stand trial on two counts of aggravated murder, Keisel said it could still be several more months before a trial is held. That would include a penalty phase if McFarland is convicted.
The preliminary hearing for McFarland is scheduled to last three days, beginning March 15.
