When Eiken Elam Saimon goes to trial next spring, the proceedings will likely be held in Newton County with a jury panel from Greene County.

That was the decision meted out Friday as attorneys for both sides met for a hearing.

Despite a full docket that included a two-day trial (see related stories in last Friday’s and Sunday’s editions), attorneys for the defense and the prosecution met briefly with Presiding Judge Timothy Perigo last Friday.

A pre-trial conference was set for Oct. 3, while the case could go to trial in late spring, 2009, according to Jake Skouby, Newton County prosecuting attorney.

“We’re going to try to get some depositions before that date,” Skouby said. “The trial will be held in late spring in Newton County, but with a Greene County jury.”

Typically when jurors are brought in from other counties, they are sequestered throughout the duration of the trial and stay at a local hotel.

Saimon is accused of opening fire during an afternoon Micronesian church service at Neosho’s First Congregational Church on Aug. 12, 2007, killing three church leaders: Kernel Rehobson, 43; his uncle, Intenson Rehobson, 44; and Kuhpes “Jesse” Ikosia, 53. Several others were wounded in the fray.

The gunman released a number of children, then held the rest of the congregation hostage in the southwest corner of the sanctuary. Cameron Kruse, a corporal with the Neosho Police Department, said he arrived on the scene about a minute after calls came in about the shooting, and was in the building about 15 or 20 seconds afterward, entering through an unlocked door at the northeast corner of the church. He reported seeing one man run down the stairs of the church “carrying a baby in his arms like a football, just trying to get out of there.”

Seven members of the Neosho Police Department, the Newton County Sheriff’s Department and the Missouri State Highway Patrol assembled for a special response team including Neosho Police Chief David McCracken, Kruse, Newton County Cpl. Donn Hall, Newton County Sgt. David Trimble, Newton County Chief Deputy Chris Jennings, Newton County Deputy Dale Brashers and Missouri State Highway Patrol Trooper Corky Burr. Hall, a member of First Congregational, was able to help the officers with the layout of the church.

The group decided five team members would enter through Kruse’s position, with McCracken and Hall to follow from below.

Authorities said Saimon had a large group of people, probably 20 to 25 people, on the floor in front of him. He was crouched down in the door, and had a woman in front of him with a gun to her head and his finger on the trigger.

After a brief standoff, the suspect put down his weapon and was arrested without further injury or loss of life.

Saimon, a native of Pohnpei, has pleaded not guilty in the shooting. He faces three charges of first-degree murder, four counts of first-degree assault, a count of armed criminal action, and a count of felonious restraint in connection with the shooting.

He is also accused of raping his 14-year-old niece on Aug. 10, two days before the deadly church rampage. Authorities have said this was retaliation for a conflict about the use of his car without his permission.