Schlichtemeier trial delayed (crash that killed four motorcyclists DWI)

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.omaha.com/article/20110110/NEWS97/701119938/0#schlichtemeier-trial-delayed

Published Monday January 10, 2011

The trial for the motorist accused in the Aug. 9 crash that killed four motorcyclists has been rescheduled for Feb. 9.

Andrew Schlichtemeier, then 21, was the driver of the Chevrolet Colorado pickup that, according to authorities, struck the four motorcyclists in a two-lane construction zone on Interstate 29. The Iowa State Patrol has said that his blood-alcohol level measured 0.373 percent after the crash, more than 4½ times the legal limit.

The trial had been scheduled to begin Tuesday morning, but Steve Lefler, one of Schlichtemeier’s attorneys, filed a motion Dec. 29th asking the alcohol test results and any statements Schlichtemeier made to investigators be suppressed because Schlichtemeier “was not competent to voluntarily waive any of his rights,” according to the motion.

Lefler said last week he expected the trial to be rescheduled to allow time for a hearing on the motion to take place. That hearing has since been set for Jan. 19, according to court records.

Schlichtemeier has pleaded not guilty. —Andrew J. Nelson