New judge assigned to 1991 murder case out of Russellville

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A new judge was assigned on Friday to a Cole County murder from 1991.

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

Niemet, of Fulton, is accused of killing his classmate, 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.

Division 5 Judge Emily Fretwell was assigned to the case on Friday after a change of judge order was filed on Thursday. Judge Joseph Shetler previously presided over the case.  

A hearing in the case is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, June 9 at the Cole County Circuit Court. The Attorney General's Office joined the prosecution in the case earlier this month.