BURLINGTON — A hearing to determine whether a former Verona man accused of murdering his wife 21 years ago is mentally capable of standing trial was postponed Wednesday.

Major

        William Major, 57, of Fairhaven, Mass., is being evaluated at the Correctional Psychiatric Treatment Center at the Kentucky State Reformatory in La Grange. Commonwealth attorney Linda Tally Smith said Mr. Major wasn't taken to the facility until Dec. 13.

        Mr. Major, who was extradited to Kentucky from Massachusetts, was indicted in September on charges of murder, tampering with physical evidence and abuse of a corpse in the death of Helen Marlene Major, who was 25 when she disappeared in 1980.

        Mrs. Major was last seen Oct. 10, 1980. Police say Mr. Major shot his wife, decapitated her and buried the remains because he feared she would take their two children.

        The pretrial conference, which will also include discussion of evidence suppression, has been rescheduled for Jan. 22.

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