Kansas University officials returning from Costa Rica say they expect new developments by next week in the murder case of Shannon Martin, the KU student who was killed in the Central American country in May 2001.

Jeff Weinberg, special assistant to the chancellor, and Diana Carlin, dean of international programs and the Graduate School, were briefed last week by Costa Rican officials.

They said prosecutor Erik Martinez plans to file an indictment on three suspects by March 20. If a judge rules in favor of Martinez, the suspects would face a trial before a tribunal of three judges, which could happen in months to a year after indictment.

Weinberg and Carlin were briefed by Vice President Lineth Soborio and Jorge Rojas, director of the Organization of Judicial Investigation, among others. KU Chancellor Robert Hemenway requested the briefings in a letter to Costa Rican President Abel Pacheco last month.

Weinberg and Carlin were already planning to travel to Costa Rica to discuss an exchange agreement with the University of Costa Rica.