GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – The trial for a man charged with killing his ex-girlfriend and her mother is still scheduled July 13, but a sixth postponement of the trial is still a possibility – this time due to coronavirus pandemic.
Jacob 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 already, but the current issue is the Wisconsin Supreme Court’s order on social distancing, and how that would affect the logistics of holding a jury trial. After discussing the matter Thursday, the parties agreed to meet again June 9 to assess the situation at that time.
“It is my goal, as well, to accommodate this jury trial if at all possible,” said Judge Tammy Jo Hock. “If there’s a way to accommodate that we will do that, but obviously I have a priority not only to Mr. Cayer and his Constitutional rights, but to the safety of the public and any potential jurors we would compel to come to this courthouse to make them feel that they would be safe as well. So we are looking at what we would need to implement to accommodate a jury trial, whether we can do that in this courthouse or whether we can do that offsite, these are all things that are being evaluated. It’s obviously a very fluid situation.”
The court is examining a variety of options, including reconfiguring the seating in the courtroom, or finding a different location, Judge Hock said.
The repeated delays have been the source of frustration for the Teague family. At a hearing in September, Sarama Teague read a statement to the court describing how helpless the family feels.
Cayer faces six charges in all, including an attempted homicide count for allegedly stabbing Joel Kennedy during the incident at a Hobart home. He has pleaded not guilty and not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect.
