CENTERVILLE, IOWA -- After nearly three years, the murder trial of 68 year-old Jackie Paul Glascock began Tuesday afternoon at the Appanoose County Court House.  And it ended just 30 minutes after it started.

The Cincinnati man had previously waived his right to a trial by jury and asked to have a judge decide if he was guilty of murdering his wife, Doretta.

Judge Daniel Wilson presided over what was an unusual bench trial, no witnesses were called -- only depositions were entered into evidence.

It has taken Glascock’s case three years to come to trial as prosecutors and defense attorneys wrangled over whether he was competent to stand trial. And while it was determined Glascock could stand trial, the elderly suspect struggled to communicate with members of the court during the proceeding.

The most notable thing that happened Tuesday was prosecution asking the court to consider second degree murder, rather than the original first degree murder charge.

First degree carries a life sentence while second degree carries a maximum of 50 years. That could leave Glascock a free man much sooner than that.

Glascock was accused of killing his wife after police found Doretta dead in the couple’s rural Cincinnati home in July of 2009.
Jackie was also found at the scene suffering from a self-inflicted  wound.

Glascock should learn his fate in June.

PREVIOUS STORIES

Iowa man incompetent to stand trial 

Man charged with murdering his wife 

Homicide investigation underway