Sentencing for manslaughter suspect delayed due to COVID-19
A man scheduled to be sentenced for first-degree manslaughter had his court date cancelled because he was infected with COVID-19.
William Christopher Little, 33, was scheduled to be sentenced at 2 p.m. Thursday in the Aug. 21, 2020 death of Roseanne Eagle Road
Judge Bradley Zell confirmed to the Argus Leader via email that Little, who is housed at the Minnehaha County Jail, could not attend his sentencing hearing because he contracted the disease.
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Instead of having Little attend his sentencing via Zoom, it was decided the hearing would be rescheduled. A new date has not been set.
The Minnehaha State Attorney's office will be contacting family of the victim before deciding on a new date for Little's sentencing.
Why was Little scheduled to be in court?
Little pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter Oct. 26 and had the first- and second-degree murder charge against him dropped, according to court documents.
The charges stemmed from an incident that happened at about 10:45 p.m. at Russell Street and Kiwanis Avenue. The Sioux Falls Police Department were called out for a woman bleeding and yelling for help.
The woman died at the entrance to the Food-N-Fuel gas station from at least one stab wound to her chest, according to court documents.
The Monday after the incident, Lt. Terrance Matia said Little stabbed Eagle Road in a vehicle after a dispute over narcotics.
The two planned to buy drugs with two other witnesses that Friday night, according to court documents. After Eagle Road purchased the drugs in a room at the nearby Motel 6, she returned to the vehicle and said the drugs "tasted odd."
One witness told police that Little thought Eagle Road had cheated her share of drugs, and stabbed her, according to prior reporting by the Argus Leader.
Little was scheduled for a jury trial starting Nov. 1, but had a change of plea hearing on Oct. 26, according to court documents.
The first-degree manslaughter charge can be sentenced by a life imprisonment, but by taking a plea deal Little will most likely be given a shorter sentence, thus making him available for parole.
Got a story idea from your community? Email reporter Alfonzo Galvan at agalvan@argusleader.com or follow him on Twitter @GalvanReports.
This article originally appeared on Sioux Falls Argus Leader: End to 2020 manslaughter case delayed by COVID, Minnehaha judge says
