Accused Priest Killer's Court Date Delayed

A status conference originally scheduled for Wednesday in state Superior Court for accused murderer Jose Feliciano has been moved to July 14.

Judge Thomas V. Manahan, who is presiding over the matter, scheduled the conference for the Wednesday date at Feliciano's arraignment March 3. But an official in Manahan's office said Friday the date had been pushed back. It is unclear why the move was made.

Feliciano has been accused of murdering then-St. Patrick's Church pastor the Rev. Edward Hinds. Hinds was found dead in the St Patrick's Church kitchen Oct. 23 after he failed to show up for morning Mass, and Feliciano, then the church's janitor, was arrested the next day.

Feliciano pleaded not guilty to six charges at the March 3 arraignment.

The charges include two counts of murder, two counts of unlawful weapon possession, one count of third-degree robbery and one count of hindering one's own apprehension.

The robbery and hindering counts stem from charges that he stole Hinds' cellular phone during the murder and from allegations that an outstanding warrant had been issued for his arrest some 20 years prior.

At the status conference, attorneys from both sides will meet with Manahan to discuss the future trial in greater detail.

The attorneys have been reviewing evidence over the past few months.