Lang
2/27/20
Trial has been pushed back to October for an Iowa City man accused of killing his wife.
67-year-old Roy Browning Jr. is charged with first-degree murder in the April 5th, 2019 stabbing death of JoEllen Browning. He was originally scheduled to stand trial on March 10th, but earlier this month defense attorney Leon Spies filed a motion that the trial be pushed back. On Wednesday attorneys for both sides met to agree on a new date, and on Thursday Judge Kevin McKeever scheduled the trial for October 13th. A case management conference is set for September 18th.
Police say Browning killed his wife at the couple’s Green Mountain Drive home after she noticed inconsistencies with the couple’s finances and scheduled a meeting with their banker to discuss them.
A representative from the financial institution has told police that they were prepared to tell JoEllen that one of their savings accounts had been depleted, Roy had taken out loans without her knowledge, and an account JoEllen thought was active never actually existed.
Roy Browning stood to inherit over $2 million in retirement accounts and other assets in the event of JoEllen Browning’s death. He has stepped down as executor of her estate, with his adult children appointed in his place.
If convicted, Browning faces life in prison.
