MANKATO – A scheduled half-day hearing for murder suspect Joel Munt lasted only ten minutes after files were never delivered to the judge for his review.During an early June hearing, the defense asked Judge Kurt Johnson to review human service files in the child custody case of Munt. The county was attempted to take away his parental rights.
Munt is facing First Degree Murder Charges for the March 2010 shooting of his ex-wife. The shooting happened in Svetlana Munt’s car, in front of the couple’s three young children.
When asked by Judge Kurt Johnson to give a status update, Chief Public Defender Scott Cutcher said he was waiting for the judicial review of the records. Cutcher asked for the incamera review of the records to see if the children were saying anything that could be used during Munt’s upcoming trial in September.
Johnson replied that he was waiting for the files too, saying he issued the order on June 9.
Why the files were never provided to Judge Kurt Johnson was never made clear. It was also never clear if the order was ever delivered.
The hearing turned into a scheduling conference. If the defense decides to use a jury questionnaire, that must be submitted to Judge Johnson for his review by August 15.
A witness list and jury instructions must be submitted by August 22.
The jury trial is scheduled to run from August 12 through August 23.