Blackmon Murder Trial Postponed
WIFE ACCUSED OF KILLING HUSBAND

By CHRIS BUTLER

SEBRING — When Highlands County 10th Circuit Court Judge Peter Estrada says he “never says never” he means it.
Estrada announced Monday he was delivering an order postponing the trial of an elderly Lake Placid woman charged with the second-degree murder of her husband.

Jury selection for Amelia Blackmon, 71, was originally supposed to begin this week. 
Defense attorney John Liguori told Estrada last week that not all witnesses scheduled to speak on Blackmon’s behalf can be in Highlands County when needed. He also said a homicide case in Polk County he’s currently involved with is demanding a substantial amount of his time. 

Estrada originally denied Liguori’s request, but still held out the possibility that the date could change. 
Any conviction for Blackmon would carry a minimum 25-year prison sentence.
Highlands County Sheriff’s deputies said they discovered Billy Joe Blackmon lying in a pool of blood in his Lake Placid living room in September 2003 after his wife called 911 and reported shooting someone. 

He was transported to Florida Hospital in Lake Placid where he died from two gunshot wounds, one to his chest and the other to his head. 
Amelia Blackmon was arrested later that night and charged with second-degree murder.