An appeals court has cleared the way for a trial of Michael Jacques, who is accused of kidnapping and killing his 12-year-old niece. The court says prosecutors can use evidence that Jacques tried to shift the blame to a make-believe international sex ring.

There's another delay in the trial of Michael Jacques, who is accused of sexually assaulting and killing his 12-year-old niece. The extra time is needed to resolve an appeal by prosecutors, who object that some evidence they want to present about Jacques' efforts to obstruct justice can't be presented at trial.

Reporter Andy Bromage of Seven Days explains the rulings and the next steps in the criminal trial of Michael Jacques, the Randolph man accused of kidnapping, assaulting and murdering his 12-year-old niece.

Federal prosecutors say a Vermont man charged with killing his niece tried to steer investigators away from him while he was in jail.

People in the Randolph area say last year's disappearance and death of 12-year-old Brooke Bennett changed people in the community forever.

Legislative committees would be given power to subpoena witnesses under a bill approved by the state Senate. Under current law, the only way committees can force a witness to testify is if the full Legislature approves a subpoena.

Sen. Patrick Leahy says someone's views on the death penalty won't influence his decision whether to nominate that person for the position of U.S. attorney serving Vermont.

A former probation officer who supervised the repeat sex offender charged in the rape and killing of a 12-year-old girl says he and his colleagues were given too little time and too few resources to do an adequate job supervising probationers.

A man accused of kidnapping and killing his niece will enter a plea of not guilty Wednesday in federal court.

The man accused of kidnapping and killing Brooke Bennett, is due in court Wednesday to face new charges filed last week.

A federal grand jury has indicted the uncle of slain 12-year-old Brooke Bennett, saying he drugged, sexually assaulted and smothered her with a plastic bag this summer.

The Vermont man accused of kidnapping 12-year-old Brooke Bennett has waived a preliminary hearing at which an FBI agent was expected to testify.

Two out-of-state lawyers have joined the defense team of Michael Jacques, in anticipation that federal prosecutors will seek the death penalty against the man accused of kidnapping 12-year-old Brooke Bennett.

The man accused of abducting 12-year-old Brooke Bennett of Braintree is scheduled appear in court this week.

The chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee is frustrated that a judge won't talk about a case involving Michael Jacques (Jakes), the man accused of kidnapping Brooke Bennett, The committee is holding hearings on possible changes to Vermont law following the kidnapping and murder of Bennett, a 12-year-old Braintree girl.

Here are the top stories at 7:30 a.m.: This year's gubernatorial candidates have taken very different approaches to releasing their financial data;  The probation officer who supervised the man accused of abducting 12-year-old Brooke Bennett says he felt compelled to recommend the release of Michael Jacques from probation on an earlier conviction;  Young baseball players from New Hampshire and Vermont leave today for Cuba...

A prosecutor is asking for more time to gather evidence against two men charged in the case of 12-year-old Brooke Bennett, who was abducted and later found dead.

The Democratic candidate for governor, Gaye Symington, is calling for an investigation of why the Vermont Department of Corrections recommended that convicted sex offender Michael Jacques be released from probation seven years early and without supervision.

When the man accused of kidnapping 12-year-ld Brooke Bennett came up for early release from probation, a prosecutor didn't think it was a good idea.

Hundreds of mourners are remembering 12-year-old Brooke Bennett.

A prosecutor says the 12-year-old girl found dead last week near her uncle's home in Randolph was killed.

The former stepfather of the Randolph girl found dead last week is due in federal court today for a detention hearing on a charge he obstructed justice in the search for 12-year-old Brooke Bennett.

Michael Jacques could face the death penalty; A Northfield businessman enters the race for lieutenant governor as a Democrat; The Vt. Department of Health cancels shingles immunization clinics;  The Asa Bloomer Building in Rutland will reopen next week; and commentator Howard Coffin recounts a Civil War Independence day tale. 

Here are the top stories at 7:30 a.m.: Hours after police announced they had found her body, members of the community gathered to mourn Brooke Bennett's death.  Customs officials have been looking at ways to minimize wait times at the land ports of entry....

A week after she was reported missing, police believe they have found the body of 12 year old Brooke Bennett of Braintree. Hours after police announced they had found her body, members of the community gathered to mourn Brooke Bennett's death. VPR's Steve Zind reports.