Haq's second trial for Jewish Federation shootings postponed

A King County judge this morning postponed the second trial of accused Jewish Federation shooter Naveed Haq for several months.

The delay was ordered by Superior Court Judge Paris Kallas so defense attorneys can review the estimated 500 to 600 recordings of telephone calls to and from Haq in the King County Jail that were turned over by prosecutors. In addition, both sides need additional time to review transcripts of Haq's first trial, which ended in a mistrial June 4 after jurors indicated they were deadlocked on 14 of 15 criminal counts.

Kallas had initially set Haq's retrial for Sept. 22.

Kallas scheduled a hearing for Aug. 6 to determine the date of Haq's new trial, which will likely be in January.

Haq, 32, is accused of shooting six women, killing one, after he burst into the offices of the Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle on July 28, 2006. Haq has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity.

During a hearing last month, defense attorneys asked that Haq's second trial to be delayed until early next year. But prosecutors said they would be ready to begin selecting another jury in the case in early September, in time to try the case before the winter holidays.

Christine Clarridge: 206-464-8983 or cclarridge@seattletimes.com

Information from Seattle Times archives is included in this report.