Trial date not decided for Columbia man accused of murder

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A trial date is undecided for a Columbia man accused of taking part in a 2017 killing.

Neither Jeffrey McWilliams nor his attorney appeared at a court hearing scheduled for him on Monday morning. ABC 17 News is told the trial could happen between the second or third week of August.

The Boone County Prosecutor's Office is checking with witnesses to see if they will be available for that time period.

This comes after an appeal was denied to dismiss the case. The appeal for McWilliams sought to dismiss the case based on prosecutors allegedly violating his right to a speedy trial.

The appeal also led to the cancelation of McWilliam's trial which was scheduled to begin Tuesday.

McWilliams is accused of killing Augustus Roberts in December 2017 in east Columbia.

Police said McWilliams and two other men robbed Roberts in his home. Roberts was reportedly a marijuana dealer taking part in a nationwide operation.

Police claim officers found McWilliams' DNA on a pullover near the neighborhood where the robbery and killing occurred.

The trial will be a four day jury trial held at the Boone County Courthouse. 6