La Crosse man waits in Arizona for new murder trial in son’s 2004 death

It’s slow going in Arizona in the attempt to retry a recent La Crosse resident for the death of his son, 14 years ago.

Martinson

Jeffrey Martinson agreed to leave La Crosse this summer to return to Maricopa County, Ari., after that state decided that Martinson should be tried again for the 2004 death of his 5-year-old son.

Martinson pleaded not guilty in August, and he had a pre-trial conference this week, but a trial date apparently has not been scheduled yet.

Experts claim the boy died from a drug overdose, but the defense says the overdose might have been an accident.

Although Martinson was convicted at his first trial, appeals courts found problems with the actions of prosecutors and a jury foreman.

The Arizona Supreme Court ordered a new trial, based on claims of misconduct from the jury foreman and the prosecution in the original case.