Markeith Loyd’s second murder trial won’t begin until next year, judge says

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — Convicted killer Markeith Loyd’s second murder trail likely won’t begin until next year, a judge said Tuesday.

Loyd was back in court on Tuesday as he gets ready for his trial. He is accused of shooting and killing Orlando Police Lieutenant Debra Clayton.

READ: Convicted killer Markeith Loyd’s attorney says supreme court’s order violates his rights

Loyd is already serving a life sentence after being convicted of killing his pregnant ex-girlfriend, Sade Dixon.

The trial for Clayton was scheduled to begin earlier this year, but was postponed due to COVID-19.

Because of the pandemic, dozens of motions that have been filed since March have to be dealt with before trial. During the first of two scheduled hearings this week, Circuit Court Judge Leticia Marques said she doesn’t expect the trial to happen until sometime next year.

“This case is not going to be tried this year. I did my best to try and get it done, but it’s not going to be done this year,” Circuit Court Judge Leticia Marques said.

READ: Markeith Loyd’s attorney files motion to dismiss Lt. Debra Clayton murder trial

Loyd wore a mask and eye patch as his attorneys and the judge started working through more than 100 motions.

“We have four volumes of motions to get through, so I’m just going to take them one at a time,” Marques said.

The motions have piled up since March when the pandemic shut must court proceedings down.

The issues Tuesday included jury selection, what evidence will be allowed in, to expert testimony.

At one point, Loyd had a brief outburst when he didn’t agree, and was asked to “settle down.”

Both attorneys were also warned to keep proper decorum in the courtroom at trial.

Stay tuned to Channel 9 Eyewitness News for updates.

Video: Convicted killer Markeith Loyd’s attorney says supreme court’s order violates his rights Convicted killer Markeith Loyd’s attorney is asking an Orange County judge find that a supreme court order is a violation of his rights.