A judge has rescheduled an October jury trial for a Roy man accused of killing his estranged wife until 2017.
Joe Joseph Castillo, 45, is charged in 2nd District Court with first-degree felony murder, third-degree felony counts of domestic violence in the presence of a child and child abuse, as well as one count class A misdemeanor violation of a protective order in connection with the 2014 death of 36-year-old Kaye Lynn Spackman.
Castillo has pleaded not guilty to all four counts. He had been set for trial in October, but court record show a judge reset the date on Friday at the request of defense lawyers. A five-day trial is now set to begin on Feb. 27, 2017.
The records cite no reason for the change, but documents filed in July by Castillo's attorneys show they want a competency evaluation to determine the state of Castillo's mental health at the time of the June 8, 2014 incident. A judge has not yet ordered an evaluation.
Charging documents allege Castillo stabbed his wife multiple times in the garage of her home near 3200 West and 1000 North in Layton.
Spackman was taken to Davis Hospital and Medical Center, where she died.
Spackman and Castillo had recently separated after more than 20 years of marriage, according to Layton police. They said the attack was witnessed by the couple's 17-year-old son and that their daughters, ages 8 and 4, were asleep at the time.
Johnson was spotted two days later at a fast food restaurant in Lake Point, Utah, and arrested.
Spackman was director of information protection for the 75th Air Base Wing and installation.
jdobner@sltrib.com
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