HELENA – A new judge has been appointed to hear arguments in Barry Beach’s efforts to get a new trial in a 1979 murder case.
District Judge David Cybulski of Wolf Point appointed District Judge Nels Swandal of Livingston to hear what Beach says is new evidence in the case.
Beach is serving a life sentence in prison after being convicted of killing Kim Nees on the Fort Peck Indian Reservation.
He is asking the court to review evidence that he says ties a group of girls to the murder.
The state Supreme Court last month ordered Cybulski to appoint a new judge to hear the arguments. Beach’s attorney, Peter Camiel, said he received notice Tuesday that Swandal had been appointed.
Swandal says he believes he could hold a hearing in September.