MISSOULA – A motion to suppress evidence in the trial of a man accused of a Missoula double murder in 2017 has been denied by Judge James Wheelis.
Instead, the defense will get their other wish of a delayed court date.
Augustus Standingrock is on trial for the August 2017 murders of 15-year-old Marilyn Pickett and 24-year-old Jackson Wiles.
Standingrock’s girlfriend, Tiffanie Pierce, is accused of committing the murders with him while both are accused of attempting to dispose of the bodies in chemical-filled barrels in their basement.
On Oct. 1, Standingrock’s defense team argued that the state has gathered a substantial amount of evidence in the case and submitted the evidence to the State Crime Lab, but has yet to receive any results. The defense argued that all DNA evidence should be suppressed unless the case is continued to allow the defense time to review results they receive and develop a case strategy for the processed evidence.
Wheelis denied the motion, ruling that the state and the crime labs have done their best to process the evidence in a timely manner.
Wheelis did, however, agree with the defense that a new trial date will give the defense enough time to review the processed evidence and come up with their defense strategy.
The new trial date has been reset for Jan. 4 with a status hearing set for Dec. 21.
