Need for new lawyer prolongs Columbia murder case

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The death of a defense lawyer has prolonged the prosecution of a Columbia man accused in a 2017 murder.

Jeffrey McWilliams appeared Tuesday in person at the Boone County Courthouse. McWilliams is a suspect in the killing of Augustus Roberts in the 1900 block of Lasso Circle on Dec. 11, 2017.

McWilliams is charged with second-degree murder, first-degree robbery and armed criminal action.

McWilliams and his legal team asked Tuesday for a continuance and another status hearing was scheduled for April 17.

McWilliams was represented by an attorney with Rosenblum Schwartz & Fry, a St. Louis firm.

The need for a new lawyer comes after McWillliams previous attorney, Stephen Wyse, died in June.

McWilliams had to assemble a new legal team after Wyse's death. McWilliams's last hearing was postponed to allow him to find a new attorney. Now the new legal team must catch up on the case.

Police say Augustus Roberts was killed in a home invasion and was targeted.