Lawyers on Both Sides of Blankenship Criminal Case Request Trial Delay

Prosecutors and defense attorneys are asking for an October trial in the criminal case against former Massey Energy CEO Don Blankenship.

Blankenship is charged with conspiring to violate safety standards at the Upper Big Branch Mine in West Virginia where an explosion killed 29 men in 2010.

In a joint motion filed Friday in federal court in Beckley, both sides asked U.S. District Judge Irene Berger to delay the scheduled July 13 trial until Oct. 13 or as soon thereafter as possible. Defense attorneys previously had requested a delay until January 2016.

The Register-Herald reports that the motion says that, barring unforeseen circumstances, lawyers don’t intend to seek further continuances.