PORT ANGELES — Kevin A. Bradfield won’t go to trial as scheduled Nov. 5.
The 23-year-old Port Angeles man, charged with first-degree premeditated murder in the strangulation death of a developmentally disabled woman in October 2011, will get a new trial date at his next court appearance Nov. 2.
Bradfield’s court-appointed attorney, Loren Oakley of Clallam Public Defender, told Superior Court Judge Ken Williams on Friday that he just received new discovery evidence that he needs to review with his client.
“Also, we have found a psychologist to re-evaluate Mr. Bradfield,” Oakley said.
“We’re not going to be ready on the 5th.”
Williams reset the status conference for 1:30 p.m. Nov. 2.
“We’ll continue this two weeks to see where we are,” Williams said.
Earlier trial dates were scheduled for Dec. 5, 2011, March 5 and May 21.
The delays have centered around DNA tests, discovery evidence and mental evaluations.
Bradfield is charged in the death 27-year-old Jennifer Pimentel, who was staying with Bradfield’s girlfriend at the time of her death.
Strangulation death
Port Angeles police alleged that Bradfield strangled Pimentel in his girlfriend’s Port Angeles apartment and disposed of her body in a remote area near the Hood Canal Bridge.
The girlfriend, Kendell K. Huether, 26, is charged with first-degree rendering criminal assistance and two counts of witness tampering for allegedly helping Bradfield hide the body and asking two acquaintances to lie about seeing Pimentel alive after her disappearance.
Authorities discovered Pimentel’s remains 10 days after her death.
Huether’s trial is set for Nov. 26.
She is living in the Port Angeles area on electronic home monitoring.
Bradfield is being held in the Clallam County jail on $1 million bond.
He originally was charged with second-degree murder, but Clallam County Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Ann Lundwall raised the charge to first-degree premeditated murder in April.
The amended charge was the result of an intercepted jailhouse letter that “indicated that Bradfield had planned to murder Pimentel to prevent her from accusing Bradfield of rape,” court documents said.
Earlier this month, Oakley said it was unlikely that the sides would reach a settlement in the case.
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5072, or at rollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.
