Appeals court reverses Cole County murder case dismissal

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Missouri appeals court has reversed a decision made by a Cole County judge in a decades-old murder case.

Judge Emily Fretwell had dismissed charges against William “Chris” Niemet earlier this month.

Niemet, of Fulton, is charged with first-degree murder in a 1991 death of his classmate in Russellville.

Fretwell had dismissed the case on July 16 and the attorney general’s office filed an appeal immediately, according to a Friday statement from the AG’s office and court filings. Catherine Hanaway’s office filed a writ against Fretwell, which was issued by the Western District court on July 20.

Hanaway’s filing on July 16 kept Fretwell “from taking further action” in the case, unless Fretwell vacated the order. Fretwell then vacated her order and an arraignment was scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 11.

Niemet is accused of killing Greg Jones in April 1991 in Russellville. Jones was 14. Niemet also would have been 14 at the time. Niemet was charged in 2020 with first-degree murder. The trial has been delayed multiple times.

Fretwell was assigned to the case in May after a request for a change in judge was filed.