The trial date for murder defendant Jerrin Hickman has scheduled for Dec. 14, nearly one year after his arrest for the alleged shooting of Christopher Monet. Hickman maintains his innocence and is fighting the charges.
A source close to the family says prosecutors sought to move the trial to June of 2010. Hickman has been in jail awaiting trial since his arrest in December 2008.
Dianna Gentry, one of Hickman's two attorneys, was forced to move the original trial date from Nov. 16 to the December date because of a co-occurring aggravated murder case.
Hickman's arrest came one year after Monet's murder, on Dec. 31, 2007.
Monet was killed by a masked gunman shortly after being involved in a fight outside a party held by several of Hickman's estranged relatives at 8407 N.E. Thompson St. The party was attended by a number of alleged gang members.
According to testimony at several pre-trial hearings, Hickman, along with many other people in attendance outside, all ran when Monet was shot. As he was fleeing, Hickman fell down an embankment at a golf course, breaking his cell phone and leg. He was discovered by golfers early the next morning.
Hickman, a licensed massage therapist, was celebrating the conception of his son the night of the shooting. Prosecutors have tried to paint Hickman as an active gang member, but defense attorneys deny the claim.
For more information about pre-trial hearings of the case, click here.
-Brian Stimson