LANSING, Mich. — On Wednesday, a pre trial was scheduled for Larkin Neely.
However, it was pushed to next week because prosecutors said they had to "iron out" a few details.
The suspect in the May 2017 stabbing death of Kevin Wirth was found competent to stand trial.
Neely is charged with open murder and armed robbery. He was arrested in Detroit on May 22, 2017, less than 24 hours after the Wirth was found dead in his home in Lansing. Police say they found Wirth's blood on clothes in a dumpster outside Neely's Detroit home. They say they also found DNA evidence in the Radisson hotel room where Neely was staying in Lansing.
Wirth texted a friend a few hours before he was killed, saying he'd met a man at the Nuthouse bar in Lansing and invited him home. He said the man was making him uncomfortable and he feared for his life. He said he was setting the alarm on his house. The alarm went off shortly before 7am. Police found Wirth dead in his living room when they arrived. He had 26 stab wounds.
Neely's competency ruling, which says he's capable of assisting in his own defense, isn't the last step before trial. A judge will have to rule on a criminal responsibility exam too, which would mean he was sane and aware of what he was doing at the time.
Want to see more local news ? Visit the FOX47News Website.
Stay in touch with us anytime, anywhere.
Download our free app for Appleand Android
and
Sign up for newsletters emailed to your inbox.
Select from these options: Breaking News, Severe Weather, School Closings, Daily Headlines and Daily Forecasts.
