The North Country murder trial that's been carrying on for more than a month just got longer. In an unprecedented twist, the prosecution asked to reopen its case.

Wayne Oxley, 40, of Ogdensburg is charged with using a baseball bat to kill his neighbor Bernard Trickey.

The District Attorney asked to re-open the case after a letter about a supposed jailhouse confession by Oxley surfaced. The letter was written by a Saint Lawrence County jail inmate to another inmate.

With jurors absent, the person who received the letter, Amy Jo Meacham testified Thursday.

Nicole Duve, the St. Lawrence County District Attorney, said, "We received a key piece of evidence this morning that we hadn't been aware of previously. It was important enough to us to make an application to the court to open our direct case, or to re-open our direct case. The purpose of the hearing this afternoon was to assess us whether or not it should allow us to do that."

The judge ruled the court will permit the prosecution to re-open its case. The man who is said to have written the letter takes the stand Friday.