Trial could take place as soon as May in the Emporia rape case against Dominik Simunovic.
Judge Jeff Larson set tentative trial dates of May 13-15 at a hearing Friday. There will be a motions hearing March 14, followed by a trial status hearing May 8 if the current schedule holds.
Speaking of motions, several were filed shortly before the hearing Friday, including a state motion asking the court not to allow references to matters that are irrelevant to this case, facts not in evidence, personal knowledge of facts or personal opinions of the case. Prosecutors have also moved to add witnesses, determine the “voluntariness” of Simunovic statements during the Emporia Police investigation and exclude evidence of the alleged victim’s prior sexual history. A defense motion to remove the GPS monitoring equipment, already denied once, was denied again.
Simunovic faces single counts of rape and aggravated criminal sodomy. Both counts have alternates alleging the victim was incapable of giving consent due to the presence of alcohol, drugs or other substances.
A redacted affidavit alleges Simunovic, a native of Croatia and a former Emporia State student, raped a person in downtown Emporia in mid-October. Simunovic says activity was consensual.
