New judge granted in central Missouri death

FULTON, Mo. (AP) - A new judge will hear the trial of a man accused of killing a neighbor and injuring the victim’s father.

The Fulton Sun reports (https://bit.ly/1gEgKsa ) that Callaway County Judge Christine Carpenter has been appointed to oversee the trial of Jake Gastler of Auxvasse.

Gastler is charged with second-degree murder and two counts of first-degree assault in the August 2013 death of 30-year-old Zachary O’Connor and the wounding of 57-year-old Michael O’Connor. The men were Gastler’s neighbors. He was charged after he reported that he found the men injured and covered with blood.

Gastler has pleaded not guilty. His attorney also is seeking a change of venue for the trial.

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Information from: The Fulton Sun, https://www.fultonsun.com