IT WILL LIKELY BE AWHILE BEFORE A RETRIAL TAKES PLACE FOR THOMAS POPP, THE SUSPECT ACCUSED OF FIRST DEGREE MURDER IN THE 1983 SHOOTING DEATH OF 18-YEAR-OLD TERRI MCCAULEY IN SIOUX CITY
POPP’S ATTORNEY, JOHN LOOS, HAS FILED A MOTION ON BEHALF OF HIS CLIENT TO DECLINE HIS RIGHT TO HAVE A NEW TRIAL WITHIN 90 DAYS OF THE MISTRIAL THAT WAS RULED LAST MONTH IN HIS FIRST TRIAL OF THE CASE.
THAT MISTRIAL WAS CALLED IN THE 63-YEAR-OLD POPP’S TRIAL IN SIOUX CITY WHEN THE JURY COULD NOT REACH A UNANIMOUS DECISION IN THE CASE.
POPP’S ATTORNEY THEN FILED A MOTION IN WOODBURY COUNTY DISTRICT COURT FOR A CHANGE OF VENUE TO MOVE THE NEW TRIAL TO A DIFFERENT COUNTY BECAUSE OF LOCAL MEDIA PUBLICITY REGARDING THE CASE.
WOODBURY COUNTY ATTORNEY JAMES LOOMIS HAS NOW FILED AN OBJECTION TO A CHANGE OF VENUE, STATING IN HIS FILING THAT ‘THE MEDIA REPORTS WERE FACTUAL AND INFORMATIVE IN NATURE, AND NOT SENSATIONAL OR INFLAMMATORY”.
LOOMIS WENT ON TO STATE THAT THE REPORTS DO NOT RISE TO THE LEVEL THAT WOULD PREVENT THE PARTIES FROM SELECTING A FAIR AND IMPARTIAL JURY FROM THE RESIDENTS OF WOODBURY COUNTY.
NO FURTHER HEARING ON WHEN AND WHERE A NEW TRIAL WILL TAKE PLACE HAS BEEN SCHEDULED AT THIS TIME.
THOMAS POPP REMAINS IN CUSTODY IN THE WOODBURY COUNTY LAW ENFORCEMENT CENTER.
