UNDATED (AP) The Pennsylvania murder trial of a man charged in the death of a Daktronics intern has been delayed until fall.

Forty-two-year-old William Smithson of Thornbury, Pennsylvania was to stand trial yesterday for the death of 23-year-old Jason Shepherd, of Cavalier, North Dakota.

Court officials say the trial has been rescheduled for October 30th, at the request of the defense.

Shephard was an intern for Brookings-based Daktronics and was on a three-day business trip to Pennsylvania when he was killed last September.

Authorities say Smithson slipped a so-called "date-rape" drug into Shephard's drink, then tried to rape Shephard and strangled him when he resisted.

Smithson was a Daktronics sales manager in Pennsylvania.



(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) APNP 06-13-07 1501CDT | save this article / add to your favorites list