By Tommy Witherspoon

Tribune-Herald staff writer

An attorney for former Central Texas minister Matt Baker is seeking postponement of the trial of a wrongful death lawsuit in which his wife’s parents allege that Baker killed her and tried to make her death appear a suicide.

While the criminal investigation into Kari Baker’s April 2006 death continues, Judge Ralph Strother of Waco’s 19th State District Court has set an Oct. 6 trial date for the civil lawsuit at the urging of attorneys for James and Linda Dulin, Kari Baker’s parents.

Baker, 36, who has denied killing his wife, has since moved to Kerrville and has been represented by Kerrville attorney Guy James Gray in the criminal case. Keith Williams, also of Kerrville, has been representing Baker in the civil case, but has said he has turned those duties over to Gray because Williams was elected judge of the 216th State District Court and will be unable to continue representing Baker.

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MATT BAKER CASE

• 09-04-09  Murder trial for former Baptist minister Matt Baker pushed back to January 
• 08-29-09  Picking Central Texas jurors for trials of pastors can be 2-edged sword 
• 05-20-09  Prosecutors subpoena Matt Baker's school records, preparing for murder trial 
• 05-15-09  Former Waco-area pastor changes attorney defending him in his wife's death 
• 04-25-09  Judge orders Matt Baker to submit DNA; rejects request for grand jury records 
• 04-22-09  Attorney for former Waco-area pastor opposes motion to get DNA from his client in murder trial 
• 04-17-09  Expert witnesses in Matt Baker case could be costly to taxpayers 
• 04-16-09  Prosecutors ask judge to order Matt Baker to submit DNA sample 
• 04-15-09  Former Waco-area pastor trying to get access to grand jury testimony in preparation for his murder trial 
• 04-11-09  Former Baptist minister Baker out of jail on $250,000 bond 
• 04-10-09  Judge approves $250,000 surety bond in Matt Baker murder case 
• 04-08-09  Former Waco-area preacher asks court to appoint defense experts in his murder trial in his wife's death 
• 04-07-09  Attorney for indicted former Waco-area pastor wants prosecutors sanctioned for behavior 
• 03-28-09  Former minister Baker who was indicted for murder transferred to Waco 
• 03-27-09  Former Waco-area Baptist minister surrenders to police on murder charge in wife's death 
• 03-26-09  Former Waco-area pastor indicted on murder charge in wife's death 
• 12-19-08  Wrongful death lawsuit against former Central Texas minister Baker pushed back 
• 12-13-08  Former Central Texas minister Matt Baker seeks dismissal of wrongful death suit because of lack of evidence 
• 07-26-08  Former minister Baker's attorney seeks delay in start of civil suit trial 
• 05-10-08  Matt Baker soliciting funds for civil suit battle over wife's death 
• 03-26-08  DA: Evidence lacking so far in Matt Baker murder case 
• 03-21-08  Ex-minister wants bond back in arrest on murder charges in wife's death 
• 03-21-08  Lawsuit refiled against former Central Texas pastor in his wife's death 
• 12-08-07  Matt Baker says rumor, innuendo fuel murder charge against him 
• 12-08-07  Arrest warrant affidavit for Matt Baker 
• 12-08-07  Death, depression and drugs: Q&A with Matt Baker 
• 10-26-07  Former minister Baker out after 3 weeks in jail 
• 10-24-07  Former minister Baker's release expected soon 
• 10-23-07  Bond reduced for man accused of killing schoolteacher wife in 2006 
• 10-19-07  Matt Baker gets high-profile legal help battling murder charge 
• 10-16-07  Couple drops civil suit in daughter's death, bets on criminal case 
• 10-03-07  Bond doubles for former local minister arrested in his wife's killing 
• 10-02-07  Former Baptist minister arrested in his wife's death moved to McLennan County Jail 
• 09-25-07  Former pastor Matt Baker still in jail on $200,000 bond 
• 09-22-07  Former local pastor arrested in wife's 2006 death 
• 09-21-07  Read the complete arrest warrant for Matt Baker 
• 09-19-07  Cause of Hewitt teacher's death ruled 'undetermined' 
• 08-30-07  Suicide or homicide? Rare inquest held into Hewitt teacher's death 
• 08-22-07  Judge sets inquest into Hewitt teacher's 2006 death 
• 03-09-07  Couple who sued in their daughter's death get more visits with their grandchildren 
• 01-11-07  Judge divides up records in wrongful death suit 
• 01-09-07  Judge considers request to quash subpoenas for records in wrongful death lawsuit 
• 09-09-06  Autopsy on Hewitt teacher inconclusive 
• 08-20-06  Teacher's body exhumed as Hewitt police reopen death investigation 

In a letter this week to Strother, Williams asks for a postponement of the trial and any other matters involving the case for at least 30 to 45 days because Gray’s son was killed in an auto accident in early July, the second of Gray’s sons to die under tragic circumstances in recent years.

A spokeswoman in Gray’s office said he was out of the country Friday and unavailable for comment.

Strother hadn’t acted on the request Friday but has said he likely will grant it under the circumstances.

“We are anxious to go to trial,” Linda Dulin said Friday. “Justice has been a long time coming. However, our hearts go out to the Gray family at this time.”

Waco attorney Bill Johnston, who represents the Dulins with his wife, attorney Susan Kelly Johnston, and attorney Darren Obenoskey, said he won’t oppose the motion for continuance.

“We understood their position and will leave that to the discretion of the court,” Johnston said.

Baker, formerly of Hewitt, was arrested in September on murder charges in the death of his wife, an elementary school teacher and the mother of their two daughters. Her death initially was ruled suicide by sleeping pill overdose, but later was changed to undetermined cause after her body was exhumed and an autopsy performed.

McLennan County District Attorney John Segrest has said that the criminal case as presented initially to his office was “not suitable” to seek an indictment.

“There is a criminal investigation that has been ongoing since we received the case and it continues at this time,” prosecutor Crawford Long said Friday.

twitherspoon@wacotrib.com

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