Judge postpones Tyler McCain trial to August
Court records show that defense attorney Michael Borges requested the trial be moved because of his involvement in other trials, adding that his independent experts also need more time to complete their work. The prosecution offered no argument against the delay.
The jury trial for Tyler Scott McCain, the man accused of killing his wife, Nikki Cheng Saelee-McCain, has been postponed to late August.
The trial was supposed to start on March 17. But on March 6, McCain’s lawyer, Michael Borges, submitted a request to postpone the trial to a later date. His reasoning, according to the motion obtained by Shasta Scout, is that he’s representing individuals in multiple other cases, including another murder trial. He also stated in the filing that outside experts have been hired to aid McCain’s defense in the case, but their work is not yet finished.
“Counsel has retained the services of a private investigator and an independent laboratory to address the interpretation of certain biological material collected during the investigation of Ms. McCain’s disappearance,” the motion reads. “The work of these experts is incomplete. Additional time is necessary to complete their preparation for trial.”
The motion states that the trial should be postponed “in order to preserve Mr. McCain’s right to the effective assistance of counsel.” In filings with the court, Borges requested the trial begin on or after July 8.
During the case’s trial readiness hearing this morning, Judge Adam B. Ryan set the new trial date to Aug. 25 at 9 a.m., with the trial readiness conference scheduled for Aug. 19 at 8:15 a.m. At that conference, it will be determined whether the defense and prosecution are both ready for the trial to begin. Shasta County prosecutors, who are trying the case on behalf of the people of California, did not push for an earlier date.
McCain appeared in court at today’s hearing with a shaved head and a seemingly muscular build. He’s been held in jail without bail since he was arrested on Aug. 20, more than a year after his wife first went missing in May 2024. Her body has still not been located.
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Stalling. County jail is preferable to any state prison where he’ll spend the rest of his life. Also more time to put on muscle, which he’s going to need.