The murder trial of a North Creek Community man accused of shooting his wife originally scheduled to begin today has been delayed because of his attorney’s illness.

The state had planned to try Bobby Wayne Copeland for the July 2009 shooting death of his wife, 63-year-old Dorothy Cravey Copeland, beginning today. Copeland was charged with murder and first-degree domestic violence. He has been held in the Covington County Jail under a $1 million bond since his arrest.

Court officials learned Sunday that Copeland’s attorney, Joe Sawyer of Coffee County, is hospitalized and unable to begin the case today. The case may possibly be reset for Wednesday morning.

Deputies were called to the couple’s North Creek home in Florala shortly after 5 a.m. Fri., July 3, 2009, after someone at the residence had reported that, “someone may be dead.” When law enforcement officers arrived, they found Mrs. Copeland dead inside the home from what appeared to be at least one gunshot wound to the head.