A court decision has been halted--at least temporarily--in the capital murder trial of a Huntsville inmate charged in the 2007 death of a prison guard during an escape attempt.

Earlier this week, prosecutors filed a motion for a judge to clarify instructions for the jury in the case of John Falk Jr. They hoped the court would alter the instructions as they are seeking the death penalty for Falk.

That appeal was denied, but today a judge granted a stay on the appeal's ruling, which now means that a court in Austin will take up the decision.

That means the trial will be on hold until at least the first of the new year.