The federal judge who has taken over a cross-country murder-for-hire case

The federal judge who has taken over a cross-country murder-for-hire case said the trial is still planned for September and will be conducted in Burlington. U.S. District Court Judge Christina Reiss met with lawyers for both sides for the first time since she was named to replace Chief Federal Judge Geoffrey W. Crawford on the case that stems from a killing in the Northeast Kingdom six years ago. Reiss questioned whether the five full weeks that had been set aside by Crawford for the criminal trial of Serhat D. Gumrukcu, 41, of Los Angeles, were still needed. Gumrukcu is the man police say ordered the hit of Gregory Davis, 49, of Danville. The most recent federal indictment in Vermont had three defendants, but Judge Reiss questioned whether, with only one person left for trial, if the proposed five weeks were still needed to prove the killing and the fraud. Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul J. Van de Graaf said there was no way to properly calculate how much time could be shaved off the trial by dropping two defendants. He said it is one of the most complex cases he has handled in his four decades. During an earlier court hearing, with two defendants due to go on trial, it would take the prosecution three weeks or less to put on its case. The defense did not offer any estimate for its side. No final decisions were reached on Monday. The trial is still set for Sept. 23 to Oct. 25.