Hampton murder trial delayed

Published: Friday, December 11, 2009 at 4:48 p.m.
Last Modified: Friday, December 11, 2009 at 4:48 p.m.

KNOXVILLE - The trial has been postponed for a Tennessee man accused of killing a Shoals woman in 2008 at the Knoxville motel where he worked, courthouse officials said today.

The first-degree murder trial for Valentino Vasquez Miranda is being delayed until Sept. 13. He is accused in the sexual assault and stabbing death of Jennifer Lee Hampton.

The trial was originally scheduled to start Jan. 11.

On Friday, Knox County Criminal Court Judge Bob McGee agreed to delay the trial until Sept. 13. Miranda is charged with first-degree murder, aggravated rape, aggravated kidnapping and abuse of a corpse.

Defense attorney Joseph Fanduzz asked for the delay to allow more time to prepare for the trial.

Prosecutors have not announced if they will seek the death penalty. That decision is expected to be made by Feb. 19.

Miranda, 20, who is an illegal immigrant, is being held in the Knox County Jail with bail set at $1 million.

Hampton, 21, a former Waterloo High School homecoming queen, was in Knoxville to help train employees at a new Mama Blues Buffet restaurant. She worked at Mama Blues in Florence at the time.

www.timesdaily.com