Jamestown, ND (KCSi-T.V. News) – A possible change in trial dates in connection with a man and woman from Jamestown, charge with murder.
22 year old Janelle Cave of Jamestown is scheduled to go on trial, Monday February 6, 2012, with jury selection, in Southeast District Court in Jamestown. Judge Thomas Merrick will preside over the 12-person jury trial.
Cave is charged with murdering 18 year old Abdi Ali Ahmed, a Somali immigrant, on April 30, 2011.
Ahmed’s body was discovered in a ditch near Spiritwood. An autopsy showed that Ahmed had been stabbed and suffered blunt force trauma to the head, the listed cause of death.

Ahmed moved to Jamestown in March of 2011, and had been living with a Somali family.
Cave, and 34 year old Leron Howard both are charged with murder and conspiracy, Class “AA” Felonies, and were arrested on the day the body was discovered. Cave and Howard are being held in the Stutsman County Correctional Center on $450,000. If convicted the felonies are punishable up to life in prison without parole.
Origiinally they were to stand trial together, but the cases have been separated.
If Cave’s trial does not start Monday, Howard’s trial will begin. If the Cave trial proceeds, Howard is scheduled for a 12-person jury trial beginning August 7, 2012.
75 potential jurors has been called during the jury selection process to start Monday and may carry over to Tuesday. First witnesses may be called on Wednesday
Extra security will be in place at the Stutsman County Courthouse.
The only available entrance to the courthouse will be the front door facing south to the parking lot, with a metal detector at the door. Bags, purses and briefcases are prohibited in the courthouse during the trial.
Prosecuting the cases is Stutsman County States AttorneyFritz Fremgen. Cave’s attorney is court appointed, David Ogren, of Grand Forks.
The last murder case tried in Stutsman County was in October 2001. Tim Klose was convicted of murder in the death of Ray Schultes, who was killed March 22, 2001, in a Jamestown apartment building.