New trial date set in 2001 Montana homicide

GREAT FALLS, Mont. – A new trial is scheduled for Sept. 25 for a man who has served 15 years in a Montana prison for a murder he says he didn’t commit.

Richard Burkhart’s case was taken up by the Montana Innocence Project. His conviction in the 2001 death of William Ledeau in Great Falls was vacated in November by District Judge John Kutzman.

Last week, Burkhart pleaded not guilty to deliberate homicide. The Great Falls Tribune reported Kutzman scheduled a new trial for Sept. 25.

Kutzman vacated Burkhart’s conviction based on new evidence, including a report that another man made a jailhouse confession to killing Ledeau and that he had a motive. The Montana Innocence Project says another man who testified against Burkhart has said he lied on the stand.