Appeal to dismiss case against Columbia murder suspect denied

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

An appeal was denied to dismiss the case against a Columbia man accused in taking part in a 2017 killing.

The appeal for Jeffery McWilliams sought to dismiss the case based on prosecutors allegedly violating his right to a speedy trial.

The appeal led to the cancelation of McWilliams' trial, which was set to begin on Tuesday.

McWilliams is accused in the death of Augustus Roberts in Dec. 2017 in the Old Hawthorne neighborhood in east Columbia. Police said he and two other men robbed Roberts, a marijuana dealer taking part in a nationwide operation. Officers claim they found a pullover near the neighborhood with McWilliams' DNA on it.

A hearing is scheduled for Monday to determine when the murder trial will take place.