Trial rescheduled for BV man accused of killing son

BENTONVILLE -- A January jury trial will not take place for the Bella Vista man accused of killing his 6-year-old son.

Mauricio Alejandro Torres' jury trial was scheduled to begin Jan. 12. The trial was rescheduled due to the appointment of two new attorneys to represent Mauricio Torres. Jeff Rosenzweig and Bill James replaced attorneys for the Arkansas Public Defenders Commission who had represented Mauricio Torres.

Mauricio Torres, 45, and Cathy Torres, 43, the boy's mother, are charged with capital murder and first-degree battery. They have pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Prosecutors will seek the death penalty for both.

Their son was pronounced dead at the hospital March 29. A medical examiner later determined Maurice Isaiah Torres suffered from chronic child abuse, and his death was from internal injuries caused by being raped.

Torres appeared in court Monday, Nov. 16, for a hearing in his murder case.

Circuit Judge Brad Karren scheduled jury selection to begin at 8:30 a.m. May 6.

Nathan Smith, Benton County's prosecuting attorney, told the judge he expects the trial to take at least three weeks.

Cathy Torres' jury trial was set to begin Jan. 26. She is scheduled to appear at 2:30 p.m. Monday for a hearing.

Karren discussed the possibility of setting her trial for Aug. 23 while discussing trial dates during Mauricio Torres' hearing.

The Torreses are being held without bond in the Benton County Jail.

General News on 11/25/2015