News

Mass. trial of dad charged in son's death delayed

WORCESTER, Mass. (AP) — The trial of a Massachusetts man charged with fatally beating his 7-year-old son on Father's Day four years ago has been postponed until next year.

The murder trial of 40-year-old Leslie Schuler was scheduled to start this month, but a judge changed it to November because a key defense witness was unavailable.

The Telegram & Gazette (http://bit.ly/12ZLY0l ) reports that Schuler's defense said the witness was not available in November either, so the trial was rescheduled for April.

Prosecutors allege Schuler beat Nathaniel Turner on June 21, 2009. The boy died two days later. An autopsy determined he suffered blunt force trauma to the head, torso and extremities.

The boy lived with his grandmother in Eufaula, Ala., but came to Worcester to spend the summer with his father.

Schuler has pleaded not guilty.

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Information from: Telegram & Gazette (Worcester, Mass.), http://www.telegram.com