Bechler murder trial reset for Nov. 13

Eric Bechler, charged with murdering his wife on a boat off the coast

of Newport Beach in 1997, is scheduled to stand trial Nov. 13, Orange

County Superior Court officials said.

Bechler’s trial was originally scheduled to begin Monday but was

continued because his attorney, John Barnett, is currently occupied with

another case in Riverside.

Barnett also said last week that he had received new information from

the prosecution and was still reviewing it.

Bechler, 33, is suspected of killing his 38-year-old wife, Pegye, and

throwing her body overboard when they were celebrating their fifth

anniversary on a boating trip in July 1997.

Bechler was arrested in 1999 after authorities arranged to have his

girlfriend, Tina New, wear a recording device and capture a conversation

about the murder. Bechler has since been held without bail in Orange

County Jail.