Lara murder trial in Sawyer killing delayed from October

One of the most closely watched murder cases in recent Deschutes County history won’t be going to trial in October as scheduled. Just when it will is not yet known.

Deschutes County Circuit Judge Michael Adler granted the request by defense attorneys for Edwin Lara, accused of killing Kaylee Sawyer last July.

Lara’s defense team said it needs more time to investigate new discovery documents, saying the case is complex because Lara is a foreign national who lived in Honduras until he was 11 and while a legal permanent resident is also a Honduran citizen.

The 31-year-old former COCC security guard is accused of abducting the 23-year-old Sawyer as she was walking home and killing her.

Lara, 31, had been scheduled to begin an 8-week trial on October 10. Defense lawyers requested a new date 12 to 18 months later.

A new trial date was not set, as Adler asked prosecutors and defense lawyers to propose new dates and whey they would (or would not) work.

Several days of hearings on suppressing potential evidence also were pushed back, to begin July 10.