Judge in Kelsey Smith case grants continuance

? The judge hearing the capital murder case against the man accused of kidnapping and killing 18-year-old Kelsey Smith ordered a six-month continuance in the trial Thursday.

Johnson County District Judge Peter V. Ruddick granted the defense motion for the continuance and set the trial for June 2, 2008, the one-year anniversary of when Smith was abducted from a Target store parking lot in Overland Park. The trial had been scheduled to start in January.

Edwin R. Hall, of Olathe, is accused of abducting Smith, of Overland Park, raping and strangling her, then dumping her body in a Missouri park about 30 miles away. Part of Smith’s abduction from the parking lot was caught on store surveillance videotape and broadcast nationwide. Her body was found June 6.

Hall, 27, has pleaded not guilty to charges of capital murder, rape, kidnapping and sodomy. Prosecutors have said they will seek the death penalty if Hall is convicted.

“When the state seeks the death penalty in a case, it adds layers of complications for all sides, the state, the defense and the court,” Ruddick said from the bench. “And, it’s layers of time, layers of security considerations and layers of expert preparation by the defendant.”

Smith’s mother, Missey Smith, left the courtroom sobbing before Ruddick granted the continuance. After she returned and the judge issued the delay, Mrs. Smith wept again.

Hall also faces separate charges for allegedly having sexual intercourse with a 14-year-old runaway in July 2004.