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Senior Judge Samuel Ranck granted a continuance to allow the defense to find another expert and announced that the trial will be held sometime in October.
It had been scheduled to start Aug. 11.
Mr. Sherwood, 26, of Northumberland faces trial for allegedly beating to death his 4 year-old step-daughter Marlee Rose Reed in December 2004. Marlee died Dec. 8 in the hospital. The cause of death was blunt trauma of the torso. Mr. Sherwood allegedly punched and kicked her in an attack lasting 10 minutes on Dec. 7 at the family’s home at the rear of 444 Front St., Northumberland.
Police said he confessed to the crime.
At a pre-trial conference Thursday at the Northumberland County Courthouse District Attorney Anthony Rosini questioned the qualifications of another of the defense’s witnesses.
Mr. Rosini asked the court to determine if R. William Tallichet was qualified to speak on Mr. Sherwood’s intent during his attack on Marlee.
Dr. Tallichet, a clinical psychologist from State College, testified in court that he had been an expert witness in 10 counties, worked with both the defense and prosecution and had training as a forensic psychologist. Under prosecution questioning he said he had never testified in a murder trial.
Defense attorney Bruce Manchester recommended the judge consider him as an expert psychologist with expertise in forensics. Mr. Rosini objected. A ruling is expected in the near future.
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