For about an hour, at least five law enforcement officers stood behind a man facing capital murder charges in the 2019 deaths of two women as the defense and state laid out the path to a tentative trial date.
Assistant State Attorney Andreas Gardiner said the state is ready to proceed toward a tentative late April trial date, while counsel for Wade Wilson, 29, said they have several tasks to complete, including redoing depositions for 15 witnesses.
During Wednesday’s hearing, Wilson whispered that depositions were once interrupted when then-attorney David Joffe reportedly didn’t return after a lunch break. Wilson told counsel the depositions are essential in his case.
Wilson, of Fort Myers, is represented by Lee Hollande and Kevin Shirley.
“The state is a little frustrated with what still needs to be done,” Gardiner said.
Hollander suggested a July trial date. He also asked Lee Circuit Judge Nicholas Thompson to set a spare week between the guilt and penalty phases of the death-penalty trial.