Change in schedule denied in murder trial

PARIS – A judge declined Friday to alter the trial schedule for an accused quadruple murderer, but the defendant’s weight loss still could push the trial back by a week or so, a defense lawyer said Friday.

Justice Robert Crowley left open the possibility of revisiting Christian Nielsen’s competency before the trial begins, so it’s still possible the Oct. 10 trial date could be pushed back, said Ron Hoffman, one of Nielsen’s lawyers.

“Everything is going forward as planned,” Hoffman said. “It’s going to be day to day.”

Nielsen, who is 6 feet tall, dropped to 106 pounds on Thursday after he stopped eating. Hoffman said the weight loss has been so severe that it’s affecting his thinking as well as his physical ability to cope with being in court eight hours a day.

On Thursday, a judge granted temporary guardianship to Nielsen’s father, who will decide whether to use a feeding tube to give his son nutrition. Hoffman said it was his understanding that there will be no action on a feeding tube before Monday.

Nielsen is charged with killing and dismembering three women at the Black Bear Bed & Breakfast in Newry. He’s also accused of killing a fourth victim, an Arkansas man who was burned and dismembered miles away near Upton.