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October 25, 2005Unger trial still months awayWife's body was found two years agoByRecord-Eagle staff writer BEULAH - Two years have passed since Mark Unger's wife's body was found in Lower Herring Lake, but his trial on murder charges is still months away. A 13-day jury trial for Unger is scheduled to begin April 26 on a second-degree murder charge, but the case thus far has been marred by delays at every turn. Prosecutors contend Unger caused his wife, Florence Unger, 37, to fall from a boathouse to a concrete slab 12 feet below. They contend he dragged her into the lake at a resort south of Elberta on Oct. 25, 2003. Unger, 44, of Huntington Woods, maintains his innocence. Prosecutors from the Michigan Attorney General's office took over the case from Benzie County Prosecutor Anthony Cicchelli. Prosecutors say they still want to charge Unger with first-degree murder. The preliminary hearing was delayed for more than a year as attorneys argued over whether Oakland County medical examiner Dr. L. J. Dragovic could testify that Florence Unger drowned. District Court Judge Brent Danielson would not allow the evidence, but attorney general spokeswoman Allison Pierce said prosecutors will attempt to convince 19th Circuit Court Judge James Batzer that Dragovic should testify. Prosecutors and Unger's defense attorneys, Robert Harrison and Thomas McGuire, are scheduled to argue over the medical examiner's testimony at a motion hearing scheduled for Dec. 9. The autopsy listed a head injury as the cause of death, but Dragovic, who did not perform the autopsy but reviewed its results, testified that evidence suggests Florence Unger drowned. The couple was going through a contentious divorce, but nonetheless spent a weekend at the resort with their children. See Related Stories: Unger will stand trial in death of wife - July 9, 2005 Unger hearing ends; trial decision looms - June 28, 2005 Unger's preliminary hearing on murder charges to proceed - June 26, 2005 Judge refuses motion to dismiss in Unger trial - April 8, 2005 Prosecutors' appeal hits dead end - January 6, 2005 Prosecution rests in Unger case - December 14, 2004 Unger ruling will come in 2005 - December 11, 2004 Unger hearing delayed - October 29, 2004 Doctor: Florence Unger's death no accident - September 9, 2004 Unger's defense challenges expert witness appearance - July 8, 2004 Preliminary hearing for Mark Unger begins - July 7, 2004 Examiners don't agree whether body was moved before death - February 1, 2004 AG joins death probe - November 26, 2003 Charges in death may take months - November 7, 2003 Deaths put cops in $30K hole - October 31, 2003 Woman died from trauma to the head - October 30, 2003 Prosecutor wants kids taken from Unger home - October 28, 2003
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