Suspects in Cromwell killings to join cases

The two suspects accused of double homicide in Cromwell in January will join their cases for a pretrial motion hearing in March.

Rachel Charlotte Defoe, 25, appeared Tuesday in Carlton County Court for a pretrial hearing called by Judge Robert Macaulay. Defoe is charged with aiding and abetting Joshua David Martineau, 29, in the slayings of Kim Schmitz and her boyfriend, Thomas Holm, in the victims’ Cromwell home Jan. 8, 2011.

Defoe’s attorney, Joanna Wiegert, told the judge that she and Martineau’s attorney, Keith Shaw, have agreed to join cases for the motion for a different venue.

Martineau faces charges of two counts of premeditated first-degree murder and two counts of first-degree murder while committing or attempting to commit first-degree burglary and/or aggravated robbery. Defoe is charged with aiding and abetting the same crimes.

A tentative date of March 9 was set for any pretrial motions, including the change of venue. Although Macaulay has set a trial date of April 2 for Martineau, he did not set a date for Defoe’s trial.

“I think it’s premature in this case to suggest a trial date,” Macaulay said, noting that both sides seem to expect the Martineau case to be tried first. “I think it’s fair to say there will be a trial for this case sometime in 2012.”

The defendants are being held in the Carlton County Jail on $1 million bail each. Both face a mandatory life prison sentence if convicted of first-degree murder.

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