JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) - The trial of a registered sex offender accused of killing an 8-year-old Jacksonville girl is being delayed because the defense says it needs more time to prepare.
The Florida Times Union (https://bit.ly/1iCUCwp ) reports Circuit Judge Mallory Cooper on Tuesday said moved the trial date for 57-year-old Donald James Smith to October.
Smith is accused of killing Cherish Perrywinkle on June 21 after befriending her mother at a Dollar General store. Police say he took the mother and her young children to a Wal-Mart store, where he offered to buy clothes and food. The girl disappeared after she went with Smith to a McDonald’s inside the store about 11 p.m.
Her body was found the next day.
Smith was arrested after his photo and description of his van were published.
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Information from: The (Jacksonville) Florida Times-Union, https://www.jacksonville.com
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