Klingbiel Trial Date Set for August 5

A Wapiti man who is accused of murdering his wife will have his day in court – a year to the day after the shooting occurred.

District Court Judge Bill Simpson made the decision on Friday to postpone the trial of Dennis Klingbiel from March 5^th to August 5^th, the anniversary of the day that Donna Klingbiel was shot to death in their home in Wapiti. Simpson says that due to the gravity of the case, he wants to make sure all evidence is covered.

New evidence was presented to the court on January 25^th, according to an article in the Cody Enterprise. Klingbiel’s attorney, Donna Domonkos of Cheyenne, said that they needed time to investigate some of the issues brought up by the new evidence. Klingbiel has waived his right to a speedy trial.

According to the newspaper, the new evidence includes verbal accounts from Klingbeil’s family members, which the state may use to show a trend of premeditated malice exhibited by Dennis Klingbeil. There are also details about an ongoing disagreement between the husband and wife about money, which began long before the night of the murder.

A hearing on March 8th will determine how much of that evidence will be entered for the August trial.