Search for new defense attorney again delays trial in 2019 stabbing death

The trial in a La Crosse County murder case dating back three years is being delayed yet again. 

Anquin St. Junious was scheduled to be tried at the end of this month for a January 2019 stabbing, but he is seeking a new defense attorney.  As a result, the trial will be postponed. 

St. Junious is accused of stabbing Virgil Stewart to death inside a taxi on 7th Street in La Crosse, on January 2nd, 2019.  The suspect’s wife has claimed she actually committed the crime. 

St. Junious tells Judge Ramona Gonzalez that he would prefer to go to trial with a new lawyer, rather than reach a plea agreement on the reckless homicide charge with the attorney who had been chosen to represent him. 

The defendant has already been represented by three different lawyers, and the pandemic caused other delays in the case. A status hearing is now scheduled for September.

District attorney Tim Gruenke says St. Junious could serve 50 years or more in prison if he’s convicted of the murder.