Judge denies delay request for Cynthia Khaleel murder trial

SPOKANE — A judge denied a defense request to delay the murder trial of Cynthia Khaleel, who is accused of killing her ex-boyfriend Justin Daniel.

The ruling means jury selection will proceed as scheduled Monday, with opening statements set for Wednesday. The trial has already been delayed nearly two years, frustrating Daniel’s family who have attended countless hearings while seeking justice.

Justin Daniel was found dead inside his home April 13, 2024. That same day, his ex-girlfriend Cynthia Khaleel was arrested for allegedly stabbing Daniel 48 times and shooting him three times.

According to court documents, Khaleel had recently lost a custody battle over the 3-year-old child the two shared, and Daniel had a protective order against her.

The trial was originally set for July 2024, but has been delayed multiple times. The defense asked for another continuance, arguing they still need more time to prepare and that there are questions and concerns about a search warrant.

“You know, we just we want to get this thing over with. We want to get justice for Justin and, be able to move on,” said Joshua Daniel, Justin’s brother.

The repeated delays have taken an emotional toll on Daniel’s family, particularly his daughter who is expected to testify in the trial. Joshua Daniel said the family has helped prepare her for testimony multiple times, only to have to explain another postponement.

“His daughter is testifying in this trial. And so there’s been several times over the last couple of months that we’ve helped her prep for trial and walked her through some of those things. And, you know, then we have to come to her, and, hey, there’s another continuance. There’s another continuance,” Joshua Daniel said.

The Daniel family has attended numerous court hearings and motions, waiting for the case to move forward. They say they won’t feel hopeful about the trial proceeding until it actually begins.

“We’re very close family. We’ve relied on our faith throughout this whole process. You know, I think, the main, the main thing for me is Justin’s children. They they deserve some closure,” Joshua Daniel said.