By AP/St. Louis Public Radio
NEW MADRID, Mo. – A trial in the assault case of former Missouri House Speaker Rod Jetton will be Oct. 28-29. New Madrid County Circuit Judge Fred Copeland set the trial date Tuesday.
Jetton is accused of assaulting a Sikeston woman on Nov. 15. The victim testified at a preliminary hearing in February that they shared a bottle of wine and she became incoherent. She said Jetton choked and punched her.
She testified that she awoke after the assault with her hands bound with a belt and Jetton having sex with her.
Jetton's attorney cited text messages between Jetton and the woman and tried to show that she knew the sex would get rough.
Jetton, a Republican, left the House due to term limits in January 2009.