Jury Trial Called Off in Case of Woman Found Dead on Road

POLSON, Mont. (AP) — A jury trial for one of the people allegedly involved in the death of a Montana woman has been called off.
The Missoulian reports Joseph Conko Parizeau Jr., of Big Arm, had faced one count of negligent homicide for allegedly throwing Cassandra Harris out of a moving truck, and three more counts of witness tampering for trying to keep the vehicle's three other occupants quiet about his actions.
Parizeau, represented by attorney Brian Smith, had pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Parizeau was supposed to go to trial Tuesday. But that was canceled last week, and attorney Steve Eschenbacher amended the charge to a single count of criminal endangerment.
Smith says Parizeau, at a hearing Wednesday, will enter an Alford plea, which allows a defendant to maintain his or her innocence, but has the same effect, for sentencing purposes, as a guilty plea.
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Information from: Missoulian, http://www.missoulian.com