An Idaho County prosecutor has been recused from an upcoming murder trial due to an apparent conflict, noting the lawyer could be called to testify in the case against Mark Lankford.
Kirk MacGregor last month was taken off the trial of Lankford, who was first convicted in 1984 of killing a Texas couple in Idaho County.
The Idaho Supreme Court sent Lankford back to trial after discovering MacGregor offered a deal to an inmate that reduced his sentenced in exchange for testimony against Lankford. The court says the defense was not informed of the deal.
Lankford won an appeal in 2007 but was convicted again after a second trial.
Lankford’s third trial was scheduled for January, but has been postponed to allow time for a new prosecutor to prepare for the case. Meanwhile, the defense was granted a motion for a change of venue, though a location has not been selected. (AP, Lewiston Tribune)
