Parties in a Woodgrains Furniture arson case did not reach an agreement regarding a trial date and duration in a pre-trial hearing Wednesday.

Thursday, January 03, 2002

Parties in a Woodgrains Furniture arson case did not reach an agreement regarding a trial date and duration in a pre-trial hearing Wednesday.

Prosecutor David Walker asked for a 10-day trial while the court had scheduled only two days. Defense lawyer Donald W. Savelkoul asked to start the trial on Jan. 15 as the court had set, but the prosecutor wanted more time before the trial.

Judge John Chesterman deferred the scheduling until another hearing on Friday.

The disagreement derives from the each party’s trial strategy.

The prosecutor intends to call a series of witnesses including a forensic accountant and insurance specialists for explaining the motive of the arson. This testimony would be crucial especially if the evidence in connection with a combustible gas detector is be ruled out as the defendant had requested.

Walker also thinks jury selection alone may need a full day.

Savelkoul wants the trial to be prompt and shorter. He had filed for a speedy trial that would entitle the defendant to have a trial within 60 days.

&uot;The fire occurred more than a year ago. The prosecutor should not be given extra time to create new evidence,&uot; he said.

The defense had demanded the court dismiss all counts – two counts of arson and insurance fraud – due to a lack of probable cause. It had also pressed for suppressing evidence from a combustible gas detector and a search by law enforcement.

Purdie is accused of setting a fire in his business in an attempt to defraud an insurance company. His damage claim of $240,000 was denied by the company. The charges against Purdie include a first-degree arson charge that requires the use of accelerant. Investigators from the fire department seized materials from the fire scene. But the test conducted by the BCA did not detect accelerants.