Lawyer's Illness Delays Trial In Sweeney Murder Case

The judge sent the prospective jurors home in the first degree murder trial of Terrico Bethel, after one of Bethel's attorneys was taken to a hospital Tuesday.

The judge announced the delay Wednesday morning. Because the jury had not yet been officially seated, the judge did not declare a mistrial.

Bethel is charged with the September 4, 2008 murder of businessman Neal Sweeney. Police say Bethel confessed to walking into Sweeney's Retail Fuels Marketing office and shooting him in the head with a handgun.

Sweeney's family was extremely disappointed by yet another delay, in a case that has taken nearly four years to get to court.

"A lot of people are disappointed and I understand that, but, this is out of our control to make it happen," said Tulsa County District Attorney, Tim Harris.

The judge said the earliest the trial can be rescheduled is August.

6/19/2012 Related Story: Neal Sweeney Murder Trial Delayed After Lawyer Collapses