Steven Rios was serving a life sentence for the murder of Jesse Valencia when a Missouri Court of Appeals granted Rios a new trial.  Tuesday a judge took the first step in the new trial and confirmed Rios' legal representation for his second trial.

Officer Steven Rios was convicted of murder in the first degree in 2005.  His counsel is a Moberly attorney.

Rios admitted to having an affair with the victim, a 23-year-old MU student, but the officer maintains his innocence.

Officer Rios first met Valencia in April 2004 after responding to a noise complaint.  Then, in June 2004, friends of Valencia found him dead with his throat slashed. By May 2005 a jury had convicted Rios of murder in the first degree.

In April 2007, the Missouri Court of Appeals for the Western District granted Rios a new trial because of hearsay statements allowed during the first trial.  Rios' case will be heard in the Boone County Circuit Court. Because he is a former police officer, the prosecuting attorney from Cape Girardeau will be handling the case again.

Rios is currently represented by a team of defense lawyers, one of whom is from Moberly. They are currently awaiting the judge to set a trial date. According to the defense lawyers, the date will most likely be the last week in July.