MINNEAPOLIS — The adult suspects in the murder of Brooklyn Park mother Zaria McKeever will now face charges together in a joint trial.
A judge in juvenile court is expected to reconsider certifying the alleged teenage gunman as an adult — a major development in the high-profile case.
The Minnesota Attorney General's Office took over the case from the Hennepin County Attorney after McKeever's family protested a plea deal offered to the teen and his brother.
Text messages from the phone belonging to Erick Haynes provided key evidence in Judge William Koch's decision to schedule a joint trial for the adult suspects.
A week before Zaria, the mother of his daughter was killed, Erick wrote to his sister, Eriana Haynes, "When you see Zaria... I want you to beat her."
Eriana and her husband are charged with being accessories while Erick Haynes is charged with first-degree murder. Prosecutors believe he sent two juvenile brothers with a gun into a Brooklyn Park apartment last November, and the younger boy shot Zaria at close range.
That teen appeared in court Wednesday morning as well. Zaria's family said it's too early to say if they are pleased with the new direction the case is taking, that is, until they learn whether the boy will be tried as an adult.
Regarding the adults, prosecutors also released text messages between Zaria and Haynes in which Judge William Koch in his ruling wrote that Haynes threatened to shoot Zaria and/or her new boyfriend.
The juvenile certification proceedings are expected to take place over the next month and a half. The joint trial for the adult suspects is scheduled for April 1.
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