Trial date set in Glacier Park murder case

A trial date has been set for the Kalispell newlywed accused of killing her husband by pushing him off a cliff in Glacier National Park.

U.S. District Court Judge Donald Molloy denied requests by both defense attorneys and prosecutors to hold the trial for Jordan Graham, 22, in February. Both sides said at the Oct. 15 pre-trial hearing that they needed more time to prepare, but Molloy ordered the trial to start Dec. 9. Graham was not present in the courtroom.

Graham faces charges of first degree murder or second degree murder and making false statements. The penalty for premeditated murder is a mandatory life sentence. Graham pleaded not guilty to all three charges on Oct. 4 and is currently released on house arrest at her mother’s home in Kalispell.

She is accused of killing Cody Johnson, 25, in Glacier Park on July 7 by pushing him off a cliff along The Loop Trail to Granite Park Chalet. Johnson’s body was recovered in a narrow gorge below The Loop switchback on the Going-to-the-Sun Road. The two had been married eight days.

Molloy ruled that holding the trial on Dec. 9 guaranteed a speedy trial for both Graham and Johnson’s family. He asked attorneys to consult Johnson’s family about how they feel about a delay before asking for a continuance.

Prosecutors had said they planned to call about 60 witnesses, but after Molloy questioned that number, they said they expected to reduce the number.

Molloy also ordered that any plea agreements to be presented by Nov. 27 and that attorneys for both sides not talk to media.