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Markale Hart, the man accused of fatally shooting Auburn football player Jakell Mitchell at an off-campus party, will be arraigned on murder charges next week.
Hart, who was indicted by a Lee County grand jury on Oct. 23, was originally set to be arraigned on Tuesday, according to court documents. His arraignment was rescheduled to Nov. 12 because transportation to Lee County hadn"t been arranged.
Hart is currently being held in the Limestone Correctional Facility after violating his probation on a burglary conviction in Tallapoosa County.
In an order filed Tuesday afternoon, Circuit Judge Christopher Hughes ordered Hart to be transported from Limestone on Nov. 10 in preparation for the Nov. 12 hearing.
It"s unclear from the order if Hart will remain in Lee County for the duration of his murder case or just for the day"s hearing.
Currently, Hart"s trial is set for Feb. 22.
One of Hart"s previous defense attorneys had argued Hart"s life would be in danger if he was remanded to the Lee County Detention Facility because he and his family had received death threats.
At around midnight on Dec. 14, Auburn police found Mitchell in the backseat of a vehicle at the Tiger Lodge apartments suffering from approximately five gunshot wounds. He later died at East Alabama Medical Center.
Hart was quickly developed as a suspect and was arrested later that same morning.
According to testimony at Hart"s preliminary hearing, Auburn police claim Mitchell got into an argument with Hart"s friend, Tyrone Rowe, during the party.
In his statement to Auburn police investigators, Hart claimed he was trying to get Rowe to leave the party prior to the shooting. Hart said a man known as Big D handed him a gun.
Police say Mitchell exchanged gunfire with Hart at the party. Hart claims, though, that Mitchell fired the first shots.
Hart currently doesn"t have an attorney.
Source: http://www.al.com/news/montgomery/index.ssf/2015/11/accused_killer_of_auburn_footb.html
