The two teenagers charged in the horrific double killing of a mother and son waived their right to a speedy trial, agreeing Thursday to have their case heard on March 2.
Brian Lee Flowers, 16, and Stafon E. Thompson, 17, are charged with four counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of Katricia Daniels and her 10-year-old son Robert Shepard in Minneapolis last month.
The complaint alleges the two were friends with Daniels' older son and went to the family's Kingfield neighborhood home late one night while the son was away. They allegedly stabbed Daniels 100 times and beat her with a golf club. Bloody foot, hand and fingerprints were spread through the house. The boy suffered a fatal blow to the head from a television set. Their bodies were discovered by Daniels' boyfriend, Joe Williams. Neither teen has entered a plea.
In their first appearance a month ago, Flowers sobbed. On Thursday, both sat quietly, Flowers in the jury box next to his lawyer Andrew Small and Thompson slouched at the defense table with his lawyer William (Butch) Selman.
Hennepin County District Court Judge Mark Wernick scheduled another hearing Sept. 15 at 1:30 to assign the case to a judge for the trial.
Wernick attributed the delay in the start of the case to an enormous amount of evidence that must be obtained and studied by both sides. A grand jury is still hearing the case.
Wernick also ruled that Flowers must submit a handprint. Thompson has been asked by prosecutors to do the same, but he only met for the first time with his lawyer 30 minutes before court, so Wernick gave them more time to file a response to the request.
In statements to police last month, the two teenagers blamed each other for the crime. It isn't known yet whether they will be tried separately or together.
