COLORADO SPRINGS – Attorneys representing a man accused of beating a woman to death in an Old Colorado City alleyway more than 30 years ago will have to decide if his case should be heard in juvenile court.
James Papol’s defense team will have to decide if they’ll request a reverse transfer hearing or file a motion to dismiss the case on the grounds that it should have been filed in juvenile court.
Papol was 15 years old at the time of the murder of Mary Lynn Vialpando on June 5, 1988. He is now 46 years old.
If the defense requests a reverse transfer hearing, it would mean that Papol could challenge the district attorney’s decision to try him as an adult. It would be up to a judge to decide if his case should be heard in juvenile court or if it would remain filed in district court.
The defense also said they will need more time to collect Papol’s medical records and other documentation from 1988.
The judge scheduled a review hearing for Nov. 26 at noon, which will update the prosecution and defense about the status of the case. At that appearance, the defense will announce whether they will file a motion to dismiss the case or request a reverse transfer hearing.
