New date set for murder retrial

A new trial date has been set for a man accused in a 2004 Lawrence murder case.

Lafayette Cosby will be retried Feb. 11 for the shooting death of Robert Martin. Cosby was convicted by a jury in 2004 of first-degree murder, but the conviction was reversed last month by the Kansas Supreme Court.

The court ruled that errors were made by the Douglas County district attorney’s office in prosecuting the case and by Judge Jack Murphy.

Murphy set the new trial date during a hearing Friday in his courtroom. Cosby, who had been serving a life sentence, was present with his attorney, Greg Robinson. Earlier in the week Cosby was transferred from the Lansing Correctional Facility to the Douglas County Jail where he is being held without bond.

Cosby was convicted the first time of shooting Martin several times during a party April 4, 2004, at a south Lawrence apartment complex.