JonBenet accused set for Colorado trial
Tuesday, 22 Aug 2006 19:40
John Mark Karr is said to have sipped champagne on his flight to the US
The man accused of murdering a six-year-old beauty pageant queen in 1996 has today been ordered to face trial in Colorado.
John Mark Karr, a former schoolteacher, was told by a Los Angeles judge that he would stand trial in JonBenet Ramsey's hometown of Boulder after waiving his right of appeal against extradition.
The former schoolteacher has had five separate charges levied against him, including murder, kidnapping and sexual assault.
Mr Karr was arrested in Thailand on suspicion of JonBenet's murder last week, voluntarily flying to the US on Sunday, where reports emerged that he had flown in business class and been allowed to drink champagne by accompanying US marshals.
Last week, Mr Karr told reporters that he was responsible for the Boxing Day 1996 murder, but that JonBenet's death was "an accident".
But his apparent admission to Thai police that he killed the young girl has been questioned after his former wife, Lara Knutson, told US TV that she was with Mr Karr in Alabama when JonBenet's body was found in the basement of her family home.