BUNKERVILLE STANDOFF UPDATE: DEFENDANT WANTS TRIAL DELAYED AFTER VEGAS MASSACRE,  PETE SANTILLI PLEA DEAL REPORTED

Lawyers representing one of the seven men set to go on trial next week in Las Vegas in connection with the Bunkerville Standoff in 2014, Ryan Payne, say Payne wants the trial delayed because of the mass murder-shooting that occurred there Sunday night.

The lawyers cite the carnage involving the use of firearms would prejudice a jury that might hear the Second Amendment offered as a defense for actions of Payne during the April 12, 2014 standoff near Bundy Ranch.

The lawyers say their defendant is also worried because the man implicated as the shooter, Stephen Paddock, was a resident of Mesquite, Nevada which is located just a few miles from the scene of the standoff.

The federal government accuses some defendants in the case of carrying rifles and pointing them at federal agents from high ground during the standoff.

"The horror of this recent shooting is too recent, and the impact of this incident too severe, for a fair trial to commence next week"- a direct quote from the motion filed by lawyers Brenda Weksler and Ryan Norwood.

Also of concern to Ryan Payne is the sudden high profile of a witness in the Bunkerville Standoff case.   Clark County Sheriff Joe Lombardo, point man for the investigation into the mass murder-shooting, was at Bunkerville communicating between the Bureau of Land Management and Cliven Bundy and negotiating the return of Bundy's cattle by the BLM that descended into the standoff situation.

Ryan Payne's concern about a biased jury has basis in the rigging of the Second Bunkerville Standoff trial earlier this year where defense lawyers were denied the customary strikes of potential jurors while the prosecution was allowed to use theirs to keep people they didn't like off the jury.

U.S.  District Judge Gloria Navarro, the "Kangaroo Court" judge,  is holding a hearing on the motion from Ryan Payne Friday morning at 11:30.

Maxine Bernstein of "Oregon Live" has reported on these developments and she has also tweeted news regarding one of the other men who was set to go on trial next, internet broadcaster Pete Santilli.

She cites a line in a court document:  "Mr Rasmussen (Santilli defense lawyer) withdraws all pending motions on behalf of Mr. Santilli and indicates that a resolution has been reached with the government"

Bernstein tweets the meaning of that line is that Pete Santilli has reached a plea deal with the federal government.