Prosecutors call for judge to step down from killing trial

PORT ORCHARD, Wash. – Prosecutors are asking that a Kitsap County judge recuse herself from the trial of a man accused of strangling his girlfriend, saying she’s been talking about the case out of court.

The Kitsap Sun reported ( that Judge Jeanette Dalton will hear arguments about her stepping away from the trial on Tuesday. Dalton is overseeing the case of 35-year-old David Kalac, who is accused of strangling 30-year-old Amber Coplin in November 2014 and posting photos of her body on the internet.

Prosecutors say Dalton made statements on March 6 and Friday to a deputy prosecutor, who is not on the case. The alleged statements were critical of the state’s expert witness and how the state has proceeded in the case.