Benton Mackenzie trial postponed. Notes from court this morning:

9:19 am: All rise.

9:20 am: Courtroom #4 is packed to the brim. Courtroom #3 is where County Attorney’s office told me to go.

Judge: Asks if defense attorney would like to address court.

DA: Says Mackenzie is hallucinating, unable to sit in chair, medication on way, phone call to Charles Mackenzie has medicine on way, once medicine arrives will take around 5 minutes to take effect. DA says recess needed until medication enables Benton to sit up in wheelchair. Asks for jury to be released.

9:21

Woman speaks, says Sunday was bad for Benton, they didn’t know if he would live or die. Please finish case as fast as possible.

Judge: Mention of offer of proof?

DA: IDK. Mackenzie wants to testify. Goal is to make offer of proof outside presence of jury. States he hasn’t been on case for long, unlike other attorneys.

Judge: I hope medication will help him sit up and work with you. We have to regulate medication in future better. I will not allow jury in courtroom while Mackenzie is on the front pew lying down. I will speak to jury in private with court reporter. I will release the jury and admonish them.

Quad City Times coverage here:

http://qctimes.com/news/local/cancer-patient-taken-to-hospital-while-on-trial-for-growing/article_8fccc8c8-05ea-11e4-8a11-0019bb2963f4.html

Word has it a Des Moines Register reporter looked at pictures of Benton’s tumors, and asked to never be contacted again.

Pictures are available here: https://www.facebook.com/FreeBenton/photos_stream

Now is time to contact anyone you know in media, radio, print, wherever, to cover this story.