The State - News from May 14, 1986

Lawyers for former Peoples Temple member Larry Layton asked a San Francisco federal judge to dismiss murder conspiracy charges in the slaying of Rep. Leo Ryan, saying a long delay in Layton’s retrial has made preparation of an adequate defense “almost impossible.” Chief U.S. District Judge Robert Peckham said at the start of the hearing that he was inclined to reject the request and allow a retrial, noting that some of the past requests for delay had been made by Layton’s lawyers. However, Peckham then heard 90 minutes of arguments from both sides in the case and deferred a final decision. Layton, the only Peoples Temple member tried in the United States, is charged with conspiracy with the Rev. Jim Jones and others in the murder of Ryan and the wounding of a U.S. diplomat. His first trial ended in a hung jury in September, 1981. The second trial is tentatively scheduled June 24.