Retrial of Columbia cop in student murder delayed at Swingle's request

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- The retrial of a former Columbia police officer convicted of killing a male college student with whom he had an affair has been postponed until December.

A new trial was scheduled to begin Monday. But special prosecutor Morley Swingle of Cape Girardeau has asked for more time to prepare for expert witnesses expected to testify for the defense.

Steven Rios was convicted of first-degree murder three years ago in the throat-slashing death of Jesse Valencia. The 23-year-old University of Missouri student and the married officer had a sexual relationship soon after Rios arrested Valencia over noise complaints at a party.

An appellate court reversed that conviction and a life prison sentence last year over inadmissible hearsay testimony at the first trial.