Trial on track in landlord killing

IOWA CITY, Iowa — The trial of a man accused of killing an Iowa City landlord from Illinois is still scheduled to begin Sept. 19 in Johnson County District Court.

Charles Thompson is charged with first-degree murder in the October 2009 death of 64-year-old John Versypt, of Cordova, Ill. Police say he was doing maintenance at one of his properties when he shot to death during a robbery.

The Gazette in Cedar Rapids reports a judge during a pretrial conference on Thursday set deadlines for attorneys for additional motions. Attorneys expect the trial to last about two weeks.

Justin Marshall is also charged in Versypt’s death. He was arrested in Texas in July and brought back to Iowa.