Richard James Beasley, who is accused of murder in the Craigslist case, waived his right to a speedy trial Wednesday morning in a brief hearing in Summit County Common Pleas Court.Beasley, 52, was dressed in orange-striped jail clothes. He sat in a wheelchair to the left of his attorneys and said little. He shielded his face with his hands in an apparent attempt to prevent news photographers and television crews from taking any photos or videos of his expressions.He was charged last month in a 27-count indictment that included aggravated murder with death penalty specifications.Wednesday’s hearing was routine from start to finish.Judge Lynne S. Callahan briefly questioned Beasley about whether he understood that he was giving up his right to a speedy trial, and he answered quietly that he did.Then, still shielding his face from news crews, Beasley was assisted by one of his two attorneys, Brian M. Pierce, in signing court papers giving up that right.Rhonda L. Kotnik is defense co-counsel.Under Ohio trial procedures, defendants facing the death penalty are assigned two attorneys to handle the complexities of such a case.The government’s attorneys are Summit County Prosecutor Jonathan Baumoel and Emily A. Pelfrey, who works in the criminal justice section of the Ohio Attorney General’s Office.Beasley’s next court appearance is scheduled for Feb. 29.His 17-year-old co-defendant, Brogan Rafferty, who is charged with aggravated murder and other offenses, was a student at Stow-Munroe Falls High School when he was arrested in the fall. He was not at Wednesday’s hearing.Both defendants have pleaded not guilty.No details about the allegations against Beasley or Rafferty were revealed in Wednesday’s proceedings, and attorneys for both sides were prohibited from commenting outside of court under a gag order Callahan has imposed.However, authorities have said previously they have linked three deaths and one attempted murder to a Craigslist help-wanted ad that lured victims to work on a nonexistent farm in southeastern Ohio’s Noble County, about 100 miles from Akron.Killed were David Pauley, 51, of Virginia; Timothy Kern, 47, of Massillon; and Ralph Geiger, 56, of Atlanta.Scott Davis, 48, a former Canton resident living in South Carolina, was shot Nov. 6 while touring the bogus property with two men authorities contend were Beasley and Rafferty. He survived.Trial dates are pending for both defendants.Rafferty’s next hearing is scheduled for 11 a.m. Feb. 16 in Summit County Juvenile Court.Ed Meyer can be reached at 330-996-3784 or emeyer@thebeaconjournal.com.