GREAT FALLS — A Montana judge has scheduled trial dates in the cases of three people accused of the beating death of a 5-year-old boy.
The Great Falls Tribune reports the trials of 23-year-old Racso James Birdtail, 31-year-old Stephanie Grace Byington and 30-year-old Emilio Emmanuel Renova Sr. have been scheduled for early 2021.
Officials say the state plans to try the three defendants separately between January and April 2021.
Authorities say the trio beat Antonio Renova to death sometime during the night of Nov. 19-20 after they had been drinking.
Byington and Renova Sr. are the victim’s parents.
All three defendants have pleaded not guilty.
A prosecutor says the state has not received the final medical examiner’s report and some forensic evidence had to be sent to an out-of-state facility for analysis. The results are not expected back until April or May 2020.
Authorities say DNA test findings are not expected to be returned to prosecutors until the end of June 2020. The evidence must then be submitted to defense attorneys for review before the cases can proceed.