Hirth murder trial cancelled due to witness being ‘compromised’

RAPID CITY, S.D. (KOTA) - The Rapid City murder trial of Richard Hirth, accused of killing Jessica Rehfeld in 2015, was cancelled Thursday because an integral defense expert witness is no longer credible, and that compromised Hirth’s right to a fair trial. That was a ruling by Seventh Circuit Court Judge Heidi Linngren, according to a release from the Pennington County State’s Attorney’s Office. The witness, Dr. William Stratford, a Missoula, Mont., psychiatrist, specializes in evaluating and treating mental health disorders. Hirth pleaded not guilty and not guilty by reason...