Judge Postpones Dibartolo Trial

Sat., Aug. 16, 1997

From Staff And Wire Reports

A former Spokane County sheriff’s deputy accused of murdering his wife won’t start his trial until October, a judge ruled Friday.

The first-degree murder trial of Tom DiBartolo, slated to start Sept. 15, now won’t begin until Oct. 20.

Postponing the trial a month was done “by mutual agreement,” said DiBartolo’s defense attorney, Maryann Moreno.

Prosecutors say DiBartolo, an 18-year law enforcement veteran, killed his 39-year-old wife, Patty, with a gunshot to the head last November. He told investigators the couple were walking in Lincoln Park when they were attacked by two robbers.

Moreno said she’s still considering requesting that the trial be moved out of Spokane to find unbiased jurors. “We are considering all of our options,” she said.

, DataTimes

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