The legal process for Sina Khanhanian, the man accused of killing 13-year-old Emily Shane in April 2010, continues after a three-day preliminary hearing concluded Tuesday, defense attorney Bradley Brunon confirmed. It was the second preliminary hearing for Khankhanian, whose case was surprisingly dismissed and then refilled Sept. 13 due to procedural issues.
Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Kathryn Solorzano, who told Khankhanian at his first preliminary hearing in January that he exhibited a “wantonness and conscious disregard for life” in the hours leading up to Shane’s death, ruled Monday there was enough evidence a crime had been committed that the case could move closer to trial.
Khankhanian, who has pled not guilty to second-degree murder for Shane’s death in April 2010, will return to court Oct. 17 for an arraignment.
Brunon requested that a reduced charge of gross vehicular manslaughter be added to give jurors an alternative option. Solorzano said that she did not have the authority to add the lesser charge and that would be up to the prosecution to decide in court. However, the prosecution has stated previously that they do not intend to offer the option of a reduced charge.