A Mount Upton man accused, along with his wife, of killing their autistic adopted son last year will wait another five months to stand trial for the teen’s death.

Following some pre-trial motions ahead of the scheduled start of jury selection in Ernest Franklin II's murder trial June 11, the court postponed the trial until early November.

The prosecution has given no clear reason for the delay, but there had been talk of the defense petitioning to allow for the introduction of some expert witnesses.

The 36 year old Chenango County man and 34 year old Heather Franklin are accused of killing 16 year old Jeffrey Franklin and starting a fire February 28 that destroyed their home on State Highway 8 in the Town of Guilford.

Investigators said the pair had been inspired by the film: Manchester by the Sea, which had just gotten an Oscar award days before.  The movie depicts a man whose children are killed in a fire he accidentally started and who is never prosecuted for the deaths.

Heather Franklin is also charged with the teen’s murder. Her trial date has not been set.

 

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