Another Week's Delay in Schmitt Case

Attorneys say they need another week to complete negotiations on a plea bargain agreement in the murder and aggravated battery case of Gary Schmitt.

The 48-year-old former Effingham man is charged with killing his father, Jack, in June 2010 and with stabbing a mother and her daughter at their home in Edgewood in January 2011.

Defense attorney Michael Mettes and Effingham County State's Attorney Ed Deters told Judge Kimberly Koester at a status hearing this morning that they need another week to complete negotiations.  Judge Koester set a hearing for Friday, October 19 at 9am.

Schmitt was to go on trial this week on the aggravated battery counts until Mettes and Deters told the judge at a hearing last week that talks on a plea bargain agreement were underway.