Saario trial set to begin Monday

CRYSTAL FALLS — The Upper Peninsula’s latest murder trial is set to begin next week.

Alfred Saario, 56, is accused of shooting and killing Jamie Lee James, 29, in June of 2016 in Alpha. He’s charged with one count of open murder and discharging a firearm in or at a building causing death.

Saario was found competent to stand trial last November. During his arraignment last year, Iron County Prosecutor Melissa Powell had this to say about the defendant.

“I believe that he’s extremely dangerous,” said Powell. “I believe he’s homicidal and suicidal. I believe that to any other person he poses a potential for suicide in our jail, he poses a potential for homicide of any other person and he poses the risk of a hostage situation.”

The trial was set to begin in April, but was pushed back until Monday, August 14th to allow both sides more time to review Saario’s medical records.