A federal judge reversed herself Friday and granted an additional two weeks for prosecutors to decide whether to seek the death penalty against a truck driver in the worst immigrant smuggling death case in U.S. history.
U.S. District Court Judge Vanessa Gilmore relented after U.S. Atty. Michael Shelby took the unusual step of personally arguing that the Justice Department needed the extra time in the case against Tyrone Williams of Schenectady, N.Y.
Capital punishment has never been sought in an immigrant smuggling case, but Shelby said the deaths of 19 people who had been sealed with others in a trailer towed by Williams last year were the greatest loss of life in such a case in this country. The trailer, which had at least 74 people inside, was discovered May 4 in Victoria, Texas.
Gilmore moved the deadline from Monday to March 15, reversing a decision made early last week.
Williams’ trial is scheduled to begin June 7.
