The trial for a man authorities accuse of killing his wife by slowly poisoning her with antifreeze is still set to begin next month despite the cancellation of a hearing scheduled for today.
James Keown, a former Waltham man and ex-radio host in Missouri, is charged with murdering his wife, Julie Oldag Keown, in September 2004.
Today's status review was canceled by the court, but attorneys on both sides say they are set to begin June 9.
Since the case began, court proceedings have been plagued by continuances.
Nearly a year after his arrest in 2005, Keown changed defense attorneys, citing "irreconcilable differences."
The trial was continued from a November 2007 start date to the beginning of March 2008. It was pushed back once again to the beginning of April after last minute paperwork and evidentiary findings were not filed in time.
Last month, Judge Geraldine Hines declared a mistrial after the defense's key medical expert had to undergo bowel surgery just hours before opening statements.
Matthew Feinberg and Matthew Kamholtz are defending Keown.
"He's all better," said Feinberg of medical expert Dr. Richard Hellman.
Feinberg also said both he and his partner are "prepared" to start next month.
Also ready to go next month is assistant district attorney Nat Yeager, said Jessica Venezia, a spokeswoman from the Middlesex District Attorney's Office.
"We're planning on going June 9," said Venezia.
Between now and the beginning of the trial there are no other hearing dates scheduled, said Venezia.
"(The trial) will be the next date," she said.
Julie Oldag Keown died after she was admitted for the second time to Newton-Wellesley Hospital with various flu-like symptoms. Her death was later ruled a homicide by acute and chronic ethylene glycol poisoning.
Authorities allege Keown had spiked his wife's Gatorade with antifreeze, a thick, syrupy substance that goes undetected when mixed with other liquids.
Following a year-long investigation, in November 2005 police arrested Keown, who had moved back to Missouri after his wife's death, while on-air.
Keown is being held without bail.
Kerri Roche can be reached at kroche@cnc.com or 781-398-8009.
