CRAIG, Colo.—Trial for a Craig man accused of killing his wife and burying her in a gold mine is scheduled for June.
Moffat County District Judge Michael O’Hara set a June 15 trial date Thursday. The trial is expected to last three weeks.
Terry Hankins, 72, has been in custody since August 2007. He is charged with first-degree murder and abuse of a corpse in the June 2007 death of Cynthia Hankins, 34.
Terry Hankins pleaded not guilty in March 2008. His trial originally was set for December 2008 in Moffat County but was postponed following a series of court actions.
In September, O’Hara ordered the trial moved to Routt County, saying publicity surrounding confessions made by Terry Hankins in Moffat County could be enough to interfere with his right to a fair trial.
The judge also threw out four confessions made by Terry Hankins. He said Terry Hankins didn’t receive a proper Miranda warning.
On Feb. 24, the Colorado Supreme Court reversed that ruling and restored the confessions. The high court determined Terry Hankins wasn’t in custody and wasn’t subject to the warning when he initially confessed and led investigators to Cynthia Hankins’ body.
In court Thursday, Deputy District Attorney Jeremy Snow raised the idea of moving the trial back to Moffat County, based on the Supreme Court’s ruling.
O’Hara responded that he would consider any motion that is filed.
“If you want me to reconsider, that’s fine,” the judge said. “As it stands now, the venue is Routt County.”
Terry Hankins is accused of strangling his wife, hitting her over the head with a crowbar, cutting up her body and burying it in his mining claim.
A pretrial conference is scheduled for May 13.
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Information from: Craig Daily Press,
