Judge OKs dozens of prosecution witnesses in Elledge murder case

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The prosecution added dozens of witnesses Monday to the list of people it can call on to testify in the trial of a Columbia man accused of killing his wife.

Judge Brouck Jacobs approved a motion to endorse 56 more prosecution witnesses in the trial against Joseph Elledge, who is accused of killing his wife, Mengqi Ji, who went missing in October 2019. That brings the total number of possible prosecution witnesses to 249, though it's not clear how many of those witnesses prosecutors will call to the stand.

Elledge's defense lawyer, Scott Rosenblum, did not object to the new witnesses.

The prosecution also offered the defense a chance to examine Ji's remains at the medical examiner's office. A hiker found the remains in March at Rock Bridge Memorial State Park and they were identified as Ji in April. Rosenblum did not make an immediate decision.

Another hearing in the case is set for July 12. Prosecutors are expected to ask the judge to allow them to use recordings of conversations between Elledge and Ji, arguing they show Elledge's motive for murder.

Prosecutors charged Elledge with first-degree murder in February 2020 and a grand jury indicted Elledge on the charge just days later.