WALNUT RIDGE — A judge has appointed a special prosecutor in the case of a man convicted in a 2001 slaying at a Crawford County transient camp.
The Times Record reported that Fort Smith attorney Ron Fields was appointed during a Wednesday hearing.
The Arkansas Supreme Court ordered a new trial for Rickey Dale Newman earlier this year, saying he was incompetent to stand trial when he was convicted in 2002 of killing Marie Cholette.
Newman's attorney Julie Brain argued for prosecutor Marc McCune's removal on the case. She said McCune accompanied police when Newman showed them where he disposed of a knife used to kill 46-year-old Cholette. She said that makes him a material witness.
McCune agreed to leave the case.
Brain has argued that her client is innocent.