Frontiersman

PALMER — When accused machete killer Christopher Erin Rogers Jr. will stand trial, in the spring or summer, hinges on one question — whether his attorney will mount an insanity defense.

“It is extremely unlikely that we will not raise some mental health defense of some kind,” public defender John Richard said. Rogers, 28, stands accused of murdering his father, Christopher Erin Rogers Sr., with a machete early the morning of Dec. 2 and savagely attacking his father’s fiancee, Elann Moren, while the couple slept in Rogers Sr.’s Palmer home.

Prosecutors say he then stole his father’s truck and traveled to Anchorage, where he allegedly shot to death Jason Wenger, 27, and shot and wounded two more people in a 26-hour time span before his arrest Dec. 3.

Cases against him have been opened in Anchorage, where he faces 10 felony counts, including murder, and Palmer, where he faces eight counts, also including murder.

Rogers is scheduled to stand trial April 7, but it’s not likely to start on that date, Richard said.

“I can’t imagine that could possibly happen,” Richard told Superior Court Judge Vanessa White during a Wednesday hearing.

Palmer District Attorney Roman Kalytiak said at the same hearing that “if there’s no insanity defense there’s no reason why it couldn’t be tried earlier.”

As far as murder cases go, Kalytiak said the case is moving along at a relatively speedy pace. Evidence is being analyzed more quickly than usual. The state’s crime lab in Anchorage has agreed to expedite its work in this case.

Also, prosecutors have already had Rogers examined by two mental health professionals and are waiting on the psychologists’ report. But, if Richard is planning to mount an insanity defense, that means more evaluations and more sharing of evidence.

White set a hearing for May 5, which will be Richard’s deadline for making clear whether or not he expects to mount an insanity defense and will be a day to set deadlines.

As to a new trial date, Kalytiak said that should be left open. Setting dates often raises the hopes of witnesses, some of whom Rogers is alleged to have attacked.

White said she wanted to make sure Rogers knew exactly how much time he was agreeing to wait.

White set a June 30 date for Rogers Jr. to face trail on the Palmer charges, noting that having a date is better than not having one, “even if it is a somewhat illusory date.”

Rogers is next due to appear in Anchorage Court June 2 before Superior Court Judge Eric Aarseth. His trial for the Anchorage charges is set for Sept. 8.

Contact Andrew Wellner at andrew.wellner@frontiers-man.com or 352-2270.