PORT ANGELES — Clallam County Superior Court Judge Simon Barnhart has set a new trial date for Marquise Hagans-Moore, who has been charged with second-degree murder in the death of a Port Angeles woman last year.
During a motion hearing on Friday, Barnhart moved Hagans-Moore’s trial to Oct. 17. It was previously set to start on Oct. 6.
Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Steven Johnson requested the delay due to pending Washington State Patrol Crime Lab findings. The state had provided Hagans-Moore’s attorney William Payne with the evidence analysis results it had already received, he said, but it was awaiting the outcome of additional DNA analysis.
Payne agreed with the continuance, although Hagans-Moore was ready to get going with trial, he said.
Hagans-Moore, 27, has pleaded not guilty to killing Rebecca Rule-Cowles, who was found dead of an apparent gunshot wound on Sept. 28, 2024, in the 300 block of East Whidby Avenue.
He was arrested after turning himself in to authorities in Tacoma, where he confessed he had killed Rule-Cowles after the two had argued.
The murder charge includes domestic violence and firearm enhancements. He has pleaded not guilty.
He is being held on $500,000 bond in Clallam County Jail.
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Reporter Paula Hunt can be contacted by email at paula.hunt@peninsuladailynews.com.
