Decades-old murder case can proceed, arraignment set for next week

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The judge in an appeals case wrote in a Friday decision that a decades-old murder case that has been reinstated may proceed as scheduled.

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

Judge Emily Fretwell had dismissed his charge last month, but Attorney General Catherine Hanaway filed an appeal that 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.

A petition in the appeal was denied on Friday and ruled moot since Fretwell vacated the order as requested.

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.