NEW JUDGE TO HEAR CAPE MURDER CASE

JACKSON, Mo. -- Robert D. Moore of Cape Girardeau, charged with second-degree murder and three other felonies in the Oct. 19 shooting death of Jesus Sides in Cape Girardeau, will appear before Judge John Grimm for arraignment.

Moore, 18, who appeared in court Monday for arraignment, was granted his request for a new judge. Moore, however, was denied a request for a change of venue. Although a firm date was not established, Moore may appear before Grimm as early as next week.

Sides, 19, was killed near Indian Park in Cape Girardeau, following a confrontation at the park.

Moore insists the shooting of Jesus was an accident, saying he was aiming at Sides' 17-year-old brother. Jesus Sides died when he was struck in the arms and chest by a single bullet.

A second Cape Girardeau man, Ralph J. Knoblauch, also appeared for arraignment Monday, and was granted a 1:30 p.m. Jan. 10 hearing on a charge of conspiracy to commit murder.

An alleged theft of a ring by a tenant prompted Knoblauch to offer $1,000 to have the tenant killed, according to an undercover policeman.

Undercover officer P.R. Neely, of the Southeast Missouri Drug Task Force, testified at Knoblauch's preliminary hearing how a former confidential informant of the Missouri State Highway Patrol had heard about Knoblauch's proposition and arranged a meeting, where Knoblauch promised to pay $500 in advance, and $500 after the intended victim, Orville Meyer, was killed.