A new trial date has been set for the Allen County man charged in the brutal death of a young girl more than two years ago. Timothy Madden returned to court on Wednesday for a pre-trial hearing.
The capital murder case against the 40-year-old Madden will now go to trial on July 23. Madden's Attorney Travis Lock questioned whether he could be ready to present his case by then. The defense attorney said he’s still working to collect mitigation evidence in the event that Madden is found guilty.
"Should there be a penalty phase in any capital case, the purpose of mitigation is to give the jury, whose task is to sentence the defendant, a detailed look at the defendant's entire life," Lock told WKU Public Radio.
Allen Circuit Court Judge Janet Crocker said she didn’t want either family to go through another anniversary without a resolution. The trial was originally set for February 26 before the judge granted a defense motion to delay the trial.
"The commonwealth and this victim's family cannot simply continue to be held hostage while you get your case ready to try," Crocker stated in court.
Allen County Commonwealth’s Attorney Clint Willis said the prosecution is ready and thinks the judge made the right decision to set a trial date.
"I think, emotionally, you have to take into account the feelings and emotions of the victims' family in every case, and this one, there's obviously it's very intense feelings," commented Willis.
Madden is charged in the November 2015 kidnapping and murder of Gabbi Doolin whose body was found behind Allen County-Scottsville High School. The seven-year-old had been raped, strangled, and drowned.
The death penalty case will be tried in Hardin County due to pre-trial publicity in Allen and surrounding counties.
