ST. JOHNS, Mich. — Tyrel Bredernitz appeared in court Monday for what was supposed to be his final pretrial conference at Clinton County Court for his involvement in the death of MSU sophomore Dustyn Frolka.
Judge Randy Tahvonen rescheduled his pretrial conference for Sept. 8, where he once again will have final chance to enter a plea.
Tahvonen said the decision to reschedule was made to combine Brenerditz and co-defendant Brendan Heim's trials for one court date. The single trial, Tahvonen said, would be beneficial to the family of the victim.
Although Bredernitz was expected to take a plea deal, no such deal was mentioned in court.
Bredernitz appeared Monday in connection with his involvement in MSU sophomore Dustyn Frolka's death. Bredernitz, 19, along with Saline Mich., resident Samantha Grigg and Heim, were implicated in beating and robbing Frolka, then leaving him on an exit ramp of Interstate 69 on the night of Feb. 15.
Previously, Heim had been awaiting evaluation to see if he was competent to stand trial. Monday, Judge Tahvonen ruled he is.
In April, Clinton County Prosecutor Charles Sherman said his office was working out a plea deal with Bredernitz. He is charged with with felony murder, unarmed robbery and conspiracy to commit unarmed robbery.
Eileen Hincka, Frolka's stepmother, was present in the courtroom along with other family members.
Hincka declined to comment, saying she “just wanted to wait and see what happens.”
Grigg, who pleaded guilty to manslaughter and unarmed robbery was sentenced late last month and will testify against Bredernitz as a stipulation of her plea deal. Grigg will serve between six and 15 years in prison.
Bredernitz's joint trial with Heim is slated for Sept. 17 at the Clinton County Courthouse.
Support student media! Please consider donating to The State News and help fund the future of journalism.
