It’ll be another 11 months before Harold Jett stands trial for the murder of his aunt, Mary Dullenty.
But during his Friday pre-trial conference in Trigg County Circuit Court, a date was agreed upon and set by defense attorney Michael Bufkin, Commonwealth’s Attorney Carrie Ovey-Wiggins and Circuit Judge Jamus Redd — bound for the week of August 21, 2023.
Alongside charges for murder and first-degree strangulation, Jett has been tabbed with first-degree evading police, speeding 26 miles an hour or greater and burglary in the first degree — all stemming from an October 2021 incident that ended with Jett’s arrest at Dullenty’s Hilltop Street residence, and the December grand jury indicting him.
Ovey-Wiggins noted Friday that some additional discovery in the case will be headed Bufkin’s way by mail soon.
An ex parte hearing seeking funds for expert defense was set for July 22, but did not come to fruition with Bufkin’s absence. Fellow public defender Jason Pfeil re-noticed the motion for it, and Redd said it could still be managed in due time. Bufkin agreed.
Redd also said he would’ve scheduled Jett’s trial for this December, but recognized that defense was not fully prepared for the quick turnaround. He did note that Division II’s arrival to the circuit court arena would open up another three months of availability for jury trials in the region.
But until such a time, December, July and August are the only times available in the 56th Judicial Circuit for such hearings.
Another pre-trial conference was set for December 14. A man of his late 40s from Taylorsville, Illinois, Jett remains incarcerated in the Christian County Jail on a bond of $1 million.
