An Aug. 10 trial date has been set for the 41-year-old Oklahoma man accused of murder in the fatal beating of a Fargo dentist last fall.
In an afternoon hearing today in Cass County District Court, Judge Frank Racek set the trial date for Michael Allen Nakvinda.
Racek said he will not grant continuances beyond Aug. 10, and questioned the attorneys about how sure they are they'll be ready. Both sides said they should be prepared by then.
Defense and prosecuting attorneys said they expect the case will go to trial, while conceding a plea deal is not off the table.
"In this business, you never say never," defense attorney Steve Mottinger said.
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Mottinger told his client before the hearing started that he expected the trial to last nine days. Attorneys told Racek to plan for up to a two-week trial.
"Woo, that's a long time," Nakvinda said.
Police believe that Gene Kirkpatrick, former father-in-law of the dentist, paid Nakvinda $3,000 to murder Philip Gattuso, the father of his granddaughter. Police think Kirkpatrick was aiming to get custody of Gattuso's daughter.
Nakvinda faces charges of murder, robbery, theft and burglary.
