The murder trial of a man accused in the 2007 death of a Haight-Ashbury community activist during a bondage session at the man’s home was postponed in San Francisco Superior Court today until January.
Terry Frazier is charged with killing Joseph Konopka, 65, on the evening of July 11, 2007, after Konopka allegedly hired Frazier for sex and died during a sadomasochism session at Konopka’s Ashbury Street home, according to prosecutors.
Frazier, now 42, is charged under the felony murder rule with committing murder during the course of a burglary and robbery. He is alleged to have taken some of Konopka’s belongings that night. He also has a separate pending drug case in San Francisco.
Frazier has pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Though the case was scheduled to go to trial today, prosecutor Marshall Khine requested a continuance, and the trial date was reset for Jan. 15.
Frazier’s attorney Susan Kaplan also told Judge Charles Haines that she had received new medical records in the case.
“And we feel cause of death is an issue,” she said.
Konopka was the former head of the community group Residents Against Druggies, aimed at preventing drug-related crime in the Haight-Ashbury neighborhood, and also once ran for city supervisor.
