Trial of Brazilian rancher for 2005 shooting death of US nun Stang delayed

Brazil trial in US nun killing delayed

BELEM, Brazil — A Brazilian court has delayed the trial of a rancher accused of ordering the murder of U.S. nun and Amazon defender Dorothy Stang.

A state court in the jungle city of Belem says it would honor a defense lawyer’s request to delay the trial. The defense says it needs more time to study appeal options.

A judge announced the delay early Wednesday, just after defendant Vitalmiro Moura entered the courtroom.

Stang, a Dayton, Ohio-native, spent three decades working to preserve the rain forest and defending the land rights of poor settlers. Prosecutors say she was killed because she blocked Moura and another rancher from stealing land the government gave to poor farmers.

The confessed gunman is serving a 27-year sentence.

Moura’s new trial is set for April 12.