NORWICH – Jury selection that was to begin today has been rescheduled for spring for a father accused of intentionally staging an accidental fire with his wife in order to murder their disabled teen son.

Ernest Franklin II, 36, and Heather Franklin, 34, both of Guilford, are accused of committing second-degree murder and third degree arson and will be tried separately. If convicted they face 25 years to life in prison.

Instead of jury selection the court made an delayed announcement Wednesday that the case was being postponed.

The attorneys in the case met earlier this morning, and after the meeting the court announced the case was being rescheduled a short time later.

"If I didn't hold those proceedings this morning, there may have been a mistrial or and appeal," Chenango County Court Judge Frank Revoir Jr., announced in court Wednesday.