La Crosse judge will not dismiss murder case from 2019 against St. Junious

The suspect in a La Crosse murder that occurred in 2019 was denied getting his case dismissed.

Anquin St. Junious claimed the local courts have ignored his demands for a speedy trial for the stabbing death of Virgil Stewart inside a parked taxicab.

“I did not receive a speedy trial, I did not even receive a speedy trial date,” St. Junious said by video link from the Portage County state prison, where he is being held on other charges.

The 44-year-old represented himself in court and said it has violated his rights.

St. Junious is charged with four criminal counts, including 2nd degree reckless homicide.

La Crosse County Judge Ramona Gonzalez said the lack of an attorney led to some of the delays in the homicide case. She told the defendant that court officials are still looking for an attorney to represent him.

St. Junious said he does not want to act as his own lawyer.

Stewart was killed Jan 2, 2019, allegedly during an argument with St. Junious inside a cab parked on 7th Street in La Crosse.

St. Junious entered a plea of not guilty in March of 2019. A trial had been scheduled originally for October of that year.

Four different defense attorneys have taken the case between 2019 and 2022.