GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — Jacob Cayer’s trial for allegedly killing his ex-girlfriend and her mother remains scheduled for April 20, at least for now, a judge ruled Friday at hearing held with more extensive use of technology due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Also, the judge denied a defense motion to argue to the jury that two other men are actually responsible for the murders.
Cayer is charged with two counts of first-degree intentional homicide for the June 7, 2016, deaths of Sabrina Teague and Heesun “Sunny” Teague. Cayer’s competency issues and treatment have forced delays and rescheduling of the trial five times.
The Brown County Courthouse re-opened Friday, a day after being closed for cleaning because a person was in and around the courthouse tested positive for COVID-19.
Among hearing participants, only the judge, the clerk and court reporter were in the courtroom. The district attorney’s office appeared by phone, while Cayer and one of his attorneys appeared via video conferencing from the jail, while the other defense attorney appeared by phone. There were two other people in the gallery. A FOX 11 photographer was in an adjacent media room.
The trial is scheduled for April 20, which Judge Tammy Jo Hock noted is outside the current court policy to only hold essential hearings due the COVID-19 pandemic. Another hearing is set for April 6 to discuss if the case can proceed then.
Hock denied a defense motion to allow it to argue to the jury two other men were responsible for murders, by kidnapping Cayer, taking him to the scene and framing him for the murders because the two were afraid Cayer might provide information to the police about other crimes. Judge Hock, in recapping the defense motion said it had “no logic.” She said the motion did not meet the requirements to show the other possible suspects had motive – and noted one of the two was actually in jail when the murders happened.
Cayer faces six charges in all, including an attempted homicide count for allegedly stabbing Joel Kennedy during the incident at a Hobart home.
