The retrial of a Mount Pleasant man accused of fatally shooting a 19-year-old woman at a Burlington bar is underway in Keokuk.
Kaysean Rice, 23, of Mount Pleasant, faces first-degree murder and other charges in connection with the March shooting death of Janea Elizabeth Osier, 19, of Mount Pleasant.
Burlington police responded to Chavy’s Bar and Grill on March 7 after receiving reports of a shooting. Osier was found suffering from a gunshot wound and was transported to Southeast Iowa Regional Medical Center, where she died the following day.
During testimony last week, witnesses described a fight inside the bar before the shooting. One witness testified that Osier said she had been shot, while another reported seeing Rice leave the bar with a handgun tucked into his clothing.
Rice’s first trial ended in a mistrial in June after a witness mentioned an unrelated arrest that jurors had been instructed not to hear about. The retrial was moved from Des Moines County to the Lee County South Courthouse following a change-of-venue request.
The trial is expected to continue this week.
The charges against Rice are accusations. He is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.