A clearly vexed Dist. Judge Kristian Earles continued without date Daniel Prince’s murder trial after jury selection began on Monday, then set a hearing for today on why he should not sanction part of the defense team for what he thinks may have been an ambush.

Prince is accused of killing two women, Jackie Campbell and Angie Mott of Branch, in January 2005, then burning their house down to cover his crime. The state is seeking the death penalty.

He was arrested in 2007 after allegedly telling a fellow state prison inmate of his deeds.

No jurors were picked before the abrupt end to proceedings early Monday afternoon.

Earles said he felt compelled to again grant a continuance because the penalty side of the defense team said it was not ready for trial in a motion submitted to Earles on Monday. The basis for its claim is not known because Earles sealed it.

The judge said to not grant a continuance would be a reversible error on appeal should Prince be convicted.

Louis Garrot heads the penalty portion of the defense effort; Burleigh Doga leads the guilt side of the team.

In capital cases, if a defendant is convicted, a penalty phrase of the trial is held for jurors to determine punishment.

Earles ordered Tuesday’s hearing, telling Garrot, “I can’t help but believe this was done intentionally to sabotage today’s proceedings.”

He noted everyone was ready for trial, that the victims’ families were in court, the bench was ready, the state was ready.

Earles instructed the clerk to prepare a manifest of costs for the assembly of the juror venire of several dozen people, then excused them.

Before granting the continuance, Earles denied a defense motion to ban the death penalty from consideration in the case.