DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — The man accused of killing Daytona Beach police officer Jason Raynor had his first in-person hearing before a judge Tuesday afternoon.
>>> STREAM CHANNEL 9 EYEWITNESS NEWS LIVE <<<
Judge Raul Zambrano called the hearing to check on the progress of the case against Othal Wallace, and set a timeframe for when it will go to trial.
READ: ‘She will be truly missed’: Local police officer dies in motorcycle crash
“We have to get moving,” Judge Zambrano said.
During Tuesday’s hearing, it was revealed that the state has 65 witnesses they intend to call for trial.
Wallace’s defense team has not listed any witnesses, but says it’s in the process of retaining expert witnesses for trial.
The judge set a tentative target date of April 2023 to start the trial.
Another case management hearing was scheduled to take place in March.
READ: Man injured in shootout with Orange County deputies charged with multiple felonies
Othal Wallace stood silent during Tuesday’s hearing.
When asked by the judge whether he was having any problems with is lawyers, Wallace simply shook his head “no.”
Officer Raynor was on patrol June 23 when he was allegedly shot in the head by Wallace.
Video: Last night, hundreds of LEOs responded when a police officer was shot in Daytona Beach. The manhunt for the suspect (Othal Wallace, armed & dangerous) has expanded far beyond Central Florida. These are just a few of the deputies who came from all over Volusia County: pic.twitter.com/2DskoeYvPv
— Volusia Sheriff (@VolusiaSheriff) June 24, 2021
Raynor was responding to a suspicious incident near Kingston Avenue in Daytona Beach when he encountered Wallace.
Body camera video showed Wallace attacking Raynor before ultimately shooting him and fleeing the scene.
READ: Volusia County deputies seeking witnesses to fatal Christmas Eve motorcycle crash in Deltona
Wallace was later arrested in Georgia and brought back to Florida days later.
Wallace remains in custody without bail as he awaits his trial.
The State Attorney’s Office has said it intends to seek the death penalty against Wallace.
Click here to download the free WFTV news and weather apps, click here to download the WFTV Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
Cox Media Group
