A Hennepin County district judge has ordered a probation officer to conduct an investigation before a potential plea by a student accused of savagely beating a Minneapolis Public Schools staff member.
Corey David Burfield, 18, of St. Paul, faces one count of first-degree assault and one count of third-degree assault in connection with a May 22 attack that left Mohammed Dukuly,, a paraprofessional at Harrison Education Center, in critical condition and on life support.
At a brief court hearing on Monday, Judge William Koch granted a request by Burfield's attorney for the report to gather information about Burfield's life history and his alleged attack against Dukuly. Koch urged Burfield to be candid during the process, stressing that the report will only be released to lead attorneys and him, not to the public.
"It's important that you be honest and that you answer the questions that are asked of you," Koch told Burfield. "To encourage you to be honest, I want you to know that no decision has been made as to what's going to happen to your case even after the pre-plea investigation."
The report coupled with a surveillance video of the attack, Koch said, would be used to help the court determine Burfield's sentencing.
Surveillance video showed Burfield grabbing Dukuly's belt where keys to the building were attached, according to a criminal complaint. Dukuly tried to push Burfield away and Burfield grabbed him by the shirt, shoved him into a wall and then to the ground, punching Dukuly numerous times on the head and neck with a closed fist, the complaint said.
Dukuly, 44, suffered head injuries and was "unconscious but breathing" when emergency responders arrived at the school in the 500 block of Irving Avenue N., according to 911 dispatch audio.
In speaking with officers, Burfield said Dukuly "took a swing" at him and he was only defending himself, the complaint said.