Sept. trial in militia case may be delayed

DETROIT (AP) -- A mid-September trial in Detroit may be postponed for eight people accused of conspiring to commit rebellion against the government. The defendants say they'd like to delay the trial until early 2012. Prosecutors aren't in favor of a long postponement. But in a court filing this week they say they're open to a new date. The government says the eight defendants belong to a southern Michigan-based militia called Hutaree. They're charged with an anti-government conspiracy and other crimes. A ninth defendant has been found mentally unfit for trial if it's held on Sept. 13 as scheduled. Defense attorneys cite many pending pre-trial issues as the reason for a delay. It's not known when federal Judge Victoria Roberts will make a decision. Published: Tue, Aug 9, 2011