Garcia's trial in 4 deaths delayed as attorneys spar

(AP) — The trial of a man charged in one of Omaha's most notorious crimes has been delayed as sparring between prosecutors and defense attorneys culminated in the out-of-state defense lawyers losing their ability Thursday to practice law in Nebraska.

Trial had been set to start Monday in the first-degree murder case against former doctor Anthony Garcia, who is accused of killing four people with ties to an Omaha medical school.

Douglas County Attorney Don Kleine filed a motion Wednesday seeking to remove the Chicago defense lawyers representing Garcia, saying attorney Alison Motta falsely told reporters earlier this week that DNA evidence exonerated Garcia and, by doing so, violated Nebraska attorney ethics rules on making public statements before trial.

Hours later, the defense attorneys filed their own motion seeking to have Kleine replaced with a special prosecutor, defending Motta's statements on the DNA evidence and claiming that Kleine has been reckless in his prosecution of Garcia.