Trail of North Dakota man accused of killing teen after street dance moved to new location

WAHPETON, N.D. — The trial of a

man accused of killing a teen

over a political argument

will probably be moved

to Wahpeton.

An order filed Friday, Jan. 6, in Foster County District Court docket has designated Richland County as the brand new location for Shannon Joseph Brandt’s trial. The McHenry, North Dakota, man will tentatively seem Might 30 earlier than a jury on felony prices of homicide and failure to right away report a loss of life.

Brandt’s legal professional Mark Friese and Foster County State’s Lawyer Kara Brinster had beforehand agreed to vary the situation of the trial, noting it might be laborious to discover a jury in Foster County that will strive the case pretty.

The trial is scheduled for 9 days.

The 42-year-old Brandt is accused of killing 18-year-old Cayler Ellingson of Grace Metropolis, North Dakota, on Sept. 18 after a avenue dance in McHenry. Prosecutors alleged Brandt ran over {the teenager} with a car.

The story gained

nationwide consideration

after a North Dakota Freeway Patrol report claimed Brandt thought Ellingson was a “Republican extremist” who was calling for individuals to return get the motorist. A state trooper informed The Discussion board there was

no proof to assist Brandt’s claims.

Friese mentioned the report made “faulty claims.” Brandt informed dispatchers that Ellingson “was saying one thing about some Republican extremist group,” in keeping with transcripts of

Brandt’s 911 name

after the crash. The motorist mentioned he was “making an attempt to flee” Ellingson, the transcript mentioned.

Ellingson initially was charged with a lesser cost of felony vehicular murder. The homicide cost was introduced up because of uproar stemming from the “faulty claims,” Friese mentioned.

Brinster has mentioned the homicide cost is suitable.

Wahpeton is about 50 miles south of Fargo. McHenry is about 120 northwest of Fargo or 55 miles north of Jamestown.