Sikeston man's murder trial set to start this summer

EDITOR'S NOTE: This story has been changed, removing a reference to Eldridge being in jail since his arrest. Court records show he posted bond.

A Sikeston, Mo., man will go to trial this summer for first-degree murder, KZIM KSIM radio reported.

New Madrid County Circuit Judge Fred Copeland was to preside over the jury trial for 47-year-old Robert Eldridge in Caruthersville this week. But that has now been pushed back to begin July 22.

Eldridge is accused of allegedly shooting Roger Winfield after a disagreement.

Sikeston police responded to a home on Taylor Street in May 2007, where they found Winfield lying dead in the front yard from a gunshot wound to his chest. Eldridge was arrested at the scene. The two men were drinking after Winfield did some house painting for Eldridge. Winfield supposedly took two shotguns from the house and Eldridge confronted him about it. The two got into a scuffle and Winfield was shot once in the back. Eldridge contends he acted in self-defense.