Trial delayed to June in 1991 murder case

4/28/2009

The trial date for a Fulton County man suspected in the 1991 murder of his wife was postponed in Lucas County Common Pleas Court Monday to give the defense more time to prepare.

Judge Gene Zmuda granted attorney Alan Konop s motion to vacate Monday s trial date and set it for June 9. The trial is expected to last more than a week.

Thomas Zich, 62, is accused of strangling his wife, Mary Jane Zich, whose body was found in her car s trunk Dec. 18, 1991, in East Toledo. He was indicted in June, 2007, and charged with murder after the cold case squad reopened the case.

In a brief hearing Monday, Mr. Konop argued that he was just made aware of two witnesses who will be testifying at Mr. Zich s trial. He argued that he needed time to do background investigations.

Assistant prosecutors opposed the delay.

Investigators said they believed Mrs. Zich was planning to tell her husband that she wanted a divorce when she disappeared on Nov. 29, 1991. Her body was discovered more than two weeks later.