EL DORADO, Ark. (AP) - An El Dorado man charged with capital murder in the death of an 18-month-old girl in his care is to be tried in October.
Desmond C. Evans is charged in the 2011 death of Cheris Samuels. He pleaded not guilty.
Prosecutors say Evans lived with the toddler and her mother, 24-year-old Josie Payne. A police report says Evans was watching the child while Payne attended an anger management class. Police say that when Payne returned home, the toddler wasn't breathing.
The El Dorado El Dorado News-Times reports Evans' trial was to have started on Tuesday. A judge granted a delay until Oct. 22 because new evidence has been submitted.
Prosecutors say Evans turned down an offer that would have allowed him to plead guilty to first-degree murder.