The Lima man accused of strangling his girlfriend to death will have some extra time to get prepared for his trial.
48-year-old Leo Stapleton chose to waive his right to a speedy trial during his pre-trial. He is being indicted on a murder charge, with a repeat violent offender specification, and one count of burglary after 40-year-old Kimberly Clark was found strangled to death inside her apartment on Metcalf Street. A motion hearing has been set for Stapleton for March 16, 2017 and his trial was also set for May 1, 2017. Stapleton could be looking at a maximum penalty of life in prison.
Clark and Stapleton were previously involved in an altercation a month before her murder, but the case was dismissed when Clark failed to pursue the case against him. Stapleton has spent the last 20 years locked up in prison in the State of Indiana where he last lived.
