Trial for Rogers Jr. pushed to December

PALMER — The Palmer trial for Christopher Erin Rogers Jr., accused of murdering his father last year with a machete and another man in Anchorage with a gun, has been moved to December.

Rogers, 29, was initially scheduled to begin trial Monday before Superior Court Judge Vanessa White. Court records show that date has been moved to Dec. 3, with court records showing 10 full days set aside for the purpose.

Rogers faces dual murder cases in Anchorage and in Palmer. His Anchorage trial is scheduled for the week of Jan. 20, 2009.

In Palmer, he’s accused of killing his father, Christopher Erin Rogers Sr., and grievously wounding his father’s fiancé, Elann Moren, on Dec. 2, 2007, as the couple slept in their Palmer home.

According to court records, in Palmer Rogers faces 11 charges, including murder, assault, theft, vehicle theft and cruelty to animals, The cruelty charge stems from when he allegedly wounded his father’s dog, which had tried to stop the attacks.

Prosecutors allege that immediately after slaying his father, Rogers went to Anchorage, where he shot and killed Jason Wenger, 27, and wounded two more people.

In Anchorage court he faces 10 charges, including murder, robbery, vehicle theft and assault.

In Alaska, a murder conviction carries up to 99 years in prison.