Palisade mom’s trial delayed until January

The trial of a woman whose two sons died after being left in a running sport utility vehicle on Grand Mesa is being delayed as her lawyers pursue an appeal before the Colorado Supreme Court.

Heather Jensen of Palisade had been scheduled to go on trial next week but on Tuesday Judge Valerie Robison agreed to delay it until Jan. 21.

The coroner ruled that the boys died of overheating last November and that their deaths were accidental.

The Daily Sentinel reports that the judge has barred an official from referring to the deaths as accidental during the trial. Jensen’s lawyers want the Supreme Court to allow that testimony.

Jensen has pleaded not guilty to two counts of criminally negligent homicide and fatal child abuse.