Prosecution seeks one-month delay in Marblehead man’s murder trial

SALEM – The upcoming trial next month for a former Marblehead massage therapist charged with repeatedly stabbing and killing his pregnant girlfriend in her Salem apartment in 2009 might be delayed a month.The trial for Peter S. Ronchi, 48, formerly of 10 Taft St., Marblehead, is scheduled for Jan. 30, but prosecutors want to continue it for a month.In Salem Superior Court on Thursday, Assistant District Attorney Jean M. Curran and co-counsel Jana DiNatale turned over several documents to Judge Timothy Q. Feeley concerning their position for the continuance.Defense lawyer David J. Nathanson opposed the request and said he’s ready to go to trial.Later in the day, Curran told Feeley that she intends to hire Dr. Martin Kelley as her medical expert to examine Ronchi and that he needs time to evaluate him to be ready to testify at trial.Nathanson said he hired Kelley in another of his murder cases and “might” have discussed this case with him.But Curran argued that she should be able to hire whoever she wants.Feeley took that issue under advisement and continued the case to Jan. 6 for a hearing on the issue and the remaining matters.