FARMINGTON — A Massachusetts man accused of killing an 81-year-old Maine woman has waived his right to a jury trial.
Juan Contreras of Waltham, Mass., told a judge in Franklin County Superior Court on Tuesday that he understood his rights to have a jury trial.
The Sun Journal reports the judge accepted the waiver and set aside five days for the trial in November.
The 28-year-old Contreras has pleaded not guilty to the June 2011 stabbing death of Grace Burton in her Farmington home.
Police say Burton was stabbed 35 times. Before she died, she managed to call 911 and give police a description of her attacker.
Contreras is being held without bail. He was living in Farmington at the time of Burton’s death.
Contreras was tied to the slaying through DNA.
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