COURTLAND—A Franklin murder suspect’s decision to change lawyers for a fourth time will delay his trial until March 25.

Charles Steinert, 38, was scheduled to go to trial this week in Southampton County Circuit Court for the June 12, 2010, shooting death of his estranged wife, Tammy Jo Steinert, 37, at her home at 200 Southampton Road in Franklin.

Steinert has hired Barrett Richardson of Portsmouth.

Tammy Jo Steinert’s uncle, Joseph Michael Wise of Courtland, survived a gunshot wound to the abdomen during a confrontation.

Detectives at the investigation believed that Charles Steinert broke into his wife’s home and chased her and two teenage girls into a bedroom. He shot her and held the girls hostage. Steinert released them unharmed four hours later and then surrendered.