WASHINGTON — The scheduled hearing for the man charged with murder for driving his car into a crowd of counterprotesters in Charlottesville, Virginia, earlier this month has been postponed.
Prosecutors and the attorney for James Alex Fields Jr. filed a motion asking a judge to set Dec. 14 as the date for a preliminary hearing.
Earlier, the judge had set Aug. 25 as a “control date” hearing, in which prosecutors and Fields’ attorney were to choose a date for the preliminary hearing.
The appointment of former Albemarle County prosecutor Denise Lunsford as Fields’ attorney made the hearing moot.
Fields’ attorney has not requested a bond hearing. In Virginia, a presumption against being granted bond exists for a defendant charged with murder.
Currently, Fields is charged with second-degree murder in the death of 32-year-old Heather Heyer.
He is also charged with nine other felonies, including malicious wounding, aggravated malicious wounding, and hit and run.
Prosecutors have not disclosed in filings any possible motive or evidence gathered against Fields, 20, of Maumee, Ohio.
As WTOP reported, search warrants are sealed in the case.
