TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) - We've learned a hearing scheduled for Tuesday morning for one of the accused suspects in the murder of an FSU professor did not happen as planned.
Sigfredo Garcia is charged with first degree murder along with conspiracy and solicitation to commit murder.
He along with Katherine Magbanua and Luis Rivera are accused of shooting and killing FSU law professor Dan Markel at his home back in July 2014.
Court documents say that the state wants to combine Garcia's case with Magbanua.
In October 2016, Rivera pleaded guilty to Markel's murder and was sentenced to 19 years in prison. The hearing, set for Tuesday morning at 10:30, technically happened but no official business was discussed.
That's because Garcia's attorney did not show up. The judge said the attorney was supposed to be present at the pretrial hearing, but “decided not to show up.”
When the judge asked Garcia why, he said his attorney was flying in Tuesday night for Wednesday's motion hearing.
Garcia is scheduled back in court Wednesday for a motion hearing and a second pre-trial hearing on Thursday. He is scheduled for trial July 9.
