Manders pretrial rescheduled

Alexis Barker
NLJ News Editor
 
The pretrial hearing for Paul Manders, of Osage, has been rescheduled for Feb. 24 at 9 a.m. at the Weston County Courthouse. A continuance of the pretrial had been granted on Dec. 30.  On Sept. 30, the 52-year-old Manders pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder in the July shooting death of Vernon Clyde. 
A pretrial hearing, according to legalmatch.com, is a meeting between the parties involved in a legal dispute. The purpose of said meeting is to “resolve any simple issues before the court case actually begins in order to allow the trial itself to proceed more effectively.” 
According to court documents, Manders had called 911 to say that he had shot Clyde, in what was reported to be the conclusion of an ongoing property dispute between the two men. 
Wyoming statutes state that murder in the second degree is committed when a person “purposely and maliciously, but without premeditation, kills any human being.” 
At this time, Manders is still being held at the Weston County Detention Center on a $150,000 bond. 
If convicted, Manders faces no less than 20 years in prison, with a maximum sentence of life in prison. A fine of no more than $10,000 may also be added to the sentence.