WSET.com - ABC13Illness Postpones Day 9 of Huguely Trial

Illness Postpones Day 9 of Huguely Trial

Reporter: Jeremy Mills

Charlottesville, VA - There was no court Thursday in the George Huguely murder trial in Charlottesville. The judge says a flu bug is to blame. He canceled court after one of the defense attorneys called in sick.

It's another delay in an already drawn-out case. When this trial started back on the 6, the judge predicted it would take two weeks. Now it appears it will be closer to three weeks.

The defense has subpoenaed more than 40 witnesses and so far have only called two of them. 

Court is expected to resume Friday at 9 a.m., but court officials say there's no guarantee Huguely's co-counsel will be well enough by then.

The defense will likely need at least two more days of testimony, followed by a half-day for closing arguments. Then, another day or two could be needed during the sentencing phase.

The fact that this trial is dragging on slowly might be frustrating to those involved, but businesses around the Charlottesville Mall tell me they are in no hurry for the media to leave.

Some of them say business has increased more than 20% since the trial started.

ABC 13 News will be back in Charlottesville Friday and keep you updated when this trial starts back up.