THE WOODBURY COUNTY ATTORNEY SAYS THE DECISION HAS BEEN MADE TO RETRY THOMAS POPP, THE SUSPECT ACCUSED OF FIRST DEGREE MURDER IN THE 1983 SHOOTING DEATH OF 18-YEAR-OLD TERRI MCCAULEY IN SIOUX CITY.
COUNTY ATTORNEY JAMES LOOMIS ISSUED A STATEMENT SAYING THE PARTIES IN THE CASE WILL WORK WITH THE COURT TO SET A NEW TRIAL DATE.
A MISTRIAL WAS CALLED IN THE 63-YEAR-OLD POPP’S TRIAL IN SIOUX CITY LAST MONTH WHEN THE JURY COULD NOT REACH A UNANIMOUS DECISION IN THE CASE.
LATE LAST WEEK, POPP’S ATTORNEY FILED A MOTION IN WOODBURY COUNTY DISTRICT COURT FOR A CHANGE OF VENUE IF THERE WAS A NEW TRIAL.
JOHN LOOS STATED THAT DUE TO EXTENSIVE MEDIA COVERAGE THERE EXISTS SUCH A DEGREE OF PREJUDICE THAT A FAIR AND IMPARTIAL TRIAL CANNOT BE HAD WITH A JURY MADE UP FROM WOODBURY COUNTY JURORS.
A HEARING ON THAT MOTION THAT WAS SET FOR TUESDAY AFTERNOON HAS NOW BEEN CALLED OFF.
NO OTHER DECISION REGARDING WHEN AND WHERE A NEW TRIAL WOULD TAKE PLACE HAS BEEN MADE AT THIS TIME.
THE COUNTY ATTORNEY HAD 90 DAYS AFTER THE MISTRIAL WAS DECLARED TO DECIDE TO RETRY POPP.
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