TRIAL POSTPONED FOR MAN ACCUSED OF RAPE, SODOMY

The trial for one of two Cape Girardeau men charged in an apartment break-in, assault and rape last summer has been postponed until mid-April.

Demarcus Wright, 19, will be tried in New Madrid on a change of venue on April 13.

Cape Girardeau County Prosecuting Attorney Morley Swingle said the trial was postponed after he added witnesses to his trial list.

"We had some additional witnesses that we were planning on calling and we agreed to the defense request for a postponement so they would have time to interview the witnesses," said Swingle.

Wright and Shondale K. Tipler, 20, were accused of breaking into an apartment west of Kingshighway near Independence in July.

Police accounts said a man living in the apartment reported being awakened when he was struck in the head with a hammer. He then saw two men in the apartment.

A woman staying at the apartment was taken to the bathroom, where the two men raped and sodomized her, police said.

Tipler and Wright were charged with one count each of forcible rape, first-degree burglary, second-degree assault, first-degree robbery and armed criminal action. Tipler also was charged with one count of forcible sodomy.

Last week, Tipler pleaded guilty to forcible rape at the Butler County Court. Prosecutors dismissed the other charges. He will be sentenced April 18.

The charges of rape, sodomy, armed criminal action and robbery all carry a maximum of life in prison.