The 3rd Circuit Court of Appeal has ordered a stay of proceedings in Felix Vail’s second-degree murder trial until it rules on whether to allow evidence of other crimes at his trial.

Vail, who is charged with killing his first wife, Mary Horton Vail, in October 1962, is also believed to be the last person to have seen two women who are missing — Annette Craver Vail, another wife who has not been seen by her family since 1984, and Sharon Hensley, whose family has not heard from her since 1973.

In May, Judge Robert Wyatt granted prosecutors’ request to admit the women’s disappearances as evidence, saying that while the manner of death isn’t known, the court presumes Hensley and Annette Vail are “deceased and under questionable circumstances.”

Defense attorney Ben Cormier appealed to the 3rd Circuit, which will hear oral arguments Sept. 24.

“Obviously, we’re thrilled,” Cormier said. “You almost never get that opportunity (for oral arguments), but it’s that important. We’re fighting for the presumption of innocence.”

Prosecutors say Felix Vail killed Mary Vail in 1962, when her body was pulled from the Calcasieu River. He says she drowned while they were running trotlines. Her death was ruled a drowning in 1962. Felix Vail was arrested, but was released three days later. When the case was submitted to a grand jury, it declined to make a decision.

Felix Vail said Hensley sailed away from Florida with others and that Annette Vail took a bus to Mexico.(Rick Hickman/American Press)

Rick Hickman