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FARMINGTON, Utah (AP) -- Trial has been set for Dec. 6 for a baby sitter charged with murder in the death of the 20-month-old girl in her care.
Raynette Marian Olsen, 31, is accused in the death of Jordyn Marie Parker, whom she was baby-sitting in Layton on Sept. 26, 2002.
Olsen called 911 and reported the child was having medical problems and she was taking her to the hospital. After the toddler arrived at the hospital, she was transported to Primary Children's Medical Center, where she died the following day. Authorities allege the death was due to Shaken Baby Syndrome.
Public defenders Mark Arrington and Todd Utzinger were assigned to defend Olsen after her private attorneys, John T. Caine and Bill Morrison, withdrew from the case Aug. 2, citing financial reasons.
On Tuesday, Judge Jon M. Memmott set Dec. 6 for the jury trial, although prosecutors wanted an earlier date and defense attorneys wanted a later date.
"I don't believe a month is an unreasonable amount of time to prepare for a trial," said Deputy Davis County Attorney Mike DiReda.
Arrington said October is when he usually takes vacation and he would be unable to prepare for a trial in November.
Utzinger was not in court because he had a hearing in a federal courtroom. Rich Gallegos, who is also a public defender, was in the courtroom and said files received from Caine and Morrison were incomplete, missing such things as preliminary hearing transcripts. He asked the judge to postpone the trial until January.
"If it was the only case we had, we could be ready," Gallegos said.
Gallegos said he wants to help Utzinger and Arrington with the case, but he has a murder trial in February to prepare.
DiReda said he also will be involved in that case -- the retrial of Elliott Rashad Harper will be retried in the slaying of Motel 6 night clerk Matthew John Whicker, 30, on Oct. 29, 1996. A jury could not reach a decision in that case after a weeklong trial in July.
(Copyright 2004 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
