Preliminary hearing in homicide case canceled

Kelly Dame

A preliminary hearing in the case of a 15-year-old boy charged as an adult in connection with a stabbing earlier this month has been canceled.

The hearing, against Steven Jeffrey Pribbernow Jr., was to take place Tuesday in the Midland County District Court. Pribbernow faces charges of open murder and three counts of assault with the intent to commit murder. Both open murder and assault with the intent to commit murder are punishable by up to life in prison.

A preliminary hearing is for a judge to decide if there is probable cause to believe a crime was committed and that it was committed by the defendant.

Pribbernow's defense attorney, Dan Duke of Midland, has filed papers requesting a forensic examination to determine if he is competent to stand trial as well as for criminal competency.

The incident occurred on Aug. 4 at 5180 W. McNally Road in Geneva Township. Killed was 17-year-old Justin Steven Pribbernow. Injured were Kody Christopher Pribbernow, 13 1/2; Kevin David Pribbernow, 15; and Joshua Saylor, 32.