IOWA CITY — The trial for a person accused of killing his spouse, a College of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics price range government, over his dangerous loans and cash troubles, shall be delayed.
Roy Carl Browning Jr., 67, charged with first-degree homicide within the deadly stabbing of JoEllen Browning, 65, on April 5, 2019, of their Iowa Metropolis dwelling, requested the court docket Friday to delay his trial, which had been scheduled to begin Oct. 13 in Johnson County District Courtroom.
Leon Spies of Iowa Metropolis, Browning’s lawyer, mentioned in a movement that coronavirus restrictions on the Johnson County Jail had restricted the time Browning and Spies have been capable of meet and go over “voluminous” case information.
Johnson County Legal professional Janet Lyness didn’t resist the movement.
Sixth Judicial District Choose Kevin McKeever set a trial scheduling phone convention for subsequent Friday.
Investigators cost that Browning had taken out high-interest loans and was covertly shifting cash from the couple’s financial savings into his private account with out his spouse’s information.
Apparently, that info was going to be revealed to JoEllen Browning the day her physique was discovered on the ground of the bed room with a number of stab wounds to her torso and on left hand, in accordance with court docket paperwork.
In accordance with a search warrant affidavit, Roy Browning referred to as 911 at 6:59 a.m. April 5, saying his spouse was “unresponsive.”
A forensic pathologist decided the reason for demise was “sharp-force injuries,” and her demise was dominated a murder, authorities mentioned.
Roy Browning was arrested in October 2019, seven months after his spouse’s demise.
There have been no indicators of a break-in on the dwelling, court docket paperwork confirmed. Blood was discovered within the couple’s main bedroom and within the bathe. Blood discovered on JoEllen Browning’s proper hand fingernails belonged to her and her husband, court docket paperwork state.
Roy Browning was arrested in October 2019, seven months after his spouse’s demise.
JoEllen Browning had a retirement account and life insurance coverage coverage worth greater than $2 million, in accordance with court docket paperwork. Her husband had no supply of revenue, and there was proof he was making monetary transactions with out her information.
Investigators discovered pictures of “apparent banking records” on the dwelling. However when put next with identified information, they discovered “numerous discrepancies,” together with a photograph of a nonexistent account.
A textual content message from JoEllen Browning to her husband confirmed they’d scheduled a gathering at their monetary establishment at eight a.m. April 5 — an hour earlier than she was discovered useless, in accordance with court docket paperwork.
About 20 minutes after Roy Browning confirmed through a textual content he was conscious of the assembly, he was at a paint provide retailer shopping for rubber gloves and towels, paperwork confirmed.
Roy Browning, who was arrested and charged stays in jail below a $5 million bail. If convicted, he faces life in jail with out parole.
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