PORT ANGELES — Kevin Bradfield’s murder trial in the strangulation death of Jennifer Pimentel has been reset for March 5.
Bradfield, 22, of Port Angeles is charged with second-degree murder with an exception sentence in the October death of the 27-year-old developmentally disabled woman.
The ex-ceptional sentence means the judge will have the option of imposing a life sentence should Bradfield be convicted by a jury.
Bradfield is being held in the Clallam County jail on $1 million bail.
He appeared in court Friday wearing a jail-issue shirt.
Superior Court Judge Ken Williams reset the trial to allow more time for DNA tests.
Defense Attorney Loren Oakley said his DNA expert can perform the tests within a month.
“To be honest, I’m not sure how long it will take to get the results back,” Oakley said.
Bradfield waived his right to a speedy trial to accommodate the new trial date.
Prosecuting Attorney Ann Lundwall advised that her DNA expert will need to coordinate with the defense expert when the testing is done.
Williams on Friday set a pretrial status conference for Jan. 27.
The original trial date of Dec. 5 had already been stricken.
Bradfield has pleaded not guilty to the murder charge.
Port Angeles police alleged that Bradfield strangled Pimentel, who had been staying with his girlfriend, Kendell Huether, and disposed of her body in a heavily wooded area near the Hood Canal Bridge in East Jefferson County.
Huether, 25, is charged with first-degree rendering criminal assistance and two counts of witness tampering for allegedly helping Bradfield hide Pimentel’s body, then trying to cover up her murder.
Huether has pleaded not guilty to the charges against her. Her next court hearing is Monday at 9 a.m.
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-417-3537 or at rob.ollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.
