A trial that was to have begun today for a Benton woman charged along with her estranged husband in the self-inflicted shooting death of their toddler has been delayed nearly six months.
Tabitha Ashley's trial has been rescheduled to begin Dec. 13, a clerk for Saline County Circuit Judge Bobby McCallister said.
Ashley is charged with manslaughter and endangering the welfare of a minor. According to police, she was in charge of watching the couple's two children Nov. 11 when she left them alone in a room while she talked on the phone for 10 to 15 minutes.
During that time, 2-year-old Bladen shot himself in the face with a .45-caliber handgun that was left loaded in an unlocked case under the dresser by the father, Phillip Ashley, police wrote in court filings.
NW News on 06/28/2016