Norwalk Councilman’s trial will begin Tuesday

NORWALK, Conn. – If you were anticipating the start of the Travis Simms trial Friday, you’ll have to wait a little longer.

The start of the District B Councilman’s trial on charges of second degree breach of peace and interfering with an officer was postponed until Tuesday. Attorney Michael Skiber said there will likely be two days of jury selection.

The charges stem from an Aug. 19, 2012 incident involving Sephylia Paulk, a close relative of Simms, according to the Stamford Advocate. Paulk was arrested outside of Townhouse Gardens at 15 Madison Ave. and charged with breach of peace and interfering with an officer after telling a crowd of people not to listen to police, the Advocate reports. Simms drove to the complex to help her and then screamed at police, telling them he was a world-champion boxer and Common Councilman, according to the Advocate, which quotes Lt. James Walsh as its source of information.

Friday’s trial was postponed because Simms’ case has been severed from that of Paulk. Her attorney told the judge that he is not available for a trial now. The state’s attorney protested that severing the trials would cost the state more time and money, and that all of the witnesses will have to testify twice. The defendant with the later trial will have an advantage, she said. But the judge said the agreement had been made to sever the trials and ordered Simms trial to begin Tuesday. Paulk’s trial will begin in January.