PHOENIX — The seven suspects accused of killing Preston Lord outside of a Halloween party in Queen Creek appeared in court Thursday for a complex case management conference. All seven juveniles and adults are charged with first-degree murder for the alleged role they played in the tragic death of the 16-year-old.
The Maricopa County Superior Court room was crowded as the seven defendants, along with 11 of their attorneys, discussed the status of the case before Judge Bruce Cohen.
Judge wants to keep July 2025 trial date despite concerns raised by defense teams
Three of the suspects, Treston Billey, Taylor Sherman and Talyn Vigil appeared in suits and button-downs as they are out of custody after posting their bonds. The other four suspects, Jacob Meisner, Dominic Turner, William Owen Hines and Talan Renner remain in custody. The judge prohibited cameras in the courtroom from photographing the suspects while wearing their in-custody clothing.
Cohen said moving forward, he will make most hearings non-appearance hearings.
“I would like to minimize the amount of additional trauma or difficulty that everyone has to experience," Cohen said. “I don’t for a moment profess to have any idea what life is like during these days for those people who are here because they have a personal attachment to this case.”
The prosecutor for the state said they are still in the process of uploading its materials for the defense to review, but defense attorneys say the sheer volume is overwhelming.
Christine Whalin, Renner's attorney, said they have reviewed around 200 body camera and interview clips. They are now starting to comb through the 6,000 pages of paper discovery. Plus, she said they've identified more than 400 witnesses and the majority need to be interviewed.
She said it's the most discovery she's ever seen in a case.
Despite that, Judge Cohen wants to keep the July 2025 trial date on the calendar with the expectation that defense teams will be ready. He believes it's realistic.
Defense attorney questions 'Gilbert Goons' hybrid gang designation
Treston Billey's attorney said he is still seeking more documents. He raised concerns in court over the decision made by law enforcement to designate the "Gilbert Goons" as a hybrid gang. He wants the records that helped them come to that conclusion.
“This whole ‘Gilbert Goons’ thing came to life and so we want to, obviously that’s highly prejudicial. We think there’s no legal basis for it. I’ve raised that before. There’s no such thing as a hybrid gang in Arizona," Billey's attorney said.
Though none of the defendants currently face gang charges, the state noted the gang classification is part of their case.
Billey's attorney questioned whether the highly publicized nature of the murder case would allow them to have a fair trial in Maricopa County.
Attorneys for Meisner, Renner and Turner all expressed their intent to file motions to modify release conditions for their clients.
As these conversations took place, Preston Lord's family and dozens of community members watched and listened. Most wore orange, Lord's favorite color.
“We continue to live this nightmare and go through waves of emotion. Sometimes the waves are bigger than other days," said Melissa Ciconte, Lord's stepmother.
Every hearing is a painful reminder of the young life lost.
“Getting up out of bed every day and doing what Preston would have wanted us to do to live like Preston is our driving force,” Ciconte said.
Up to Speed
Catch up on the latest news and stories on the 12 News YouTube channel. Subscribe today.
>> Download the 12News app for the latest local breaking news straight to your phone.
>> Live, local, breaking. Download the 12News app
Watch 12News+ for free
You can now watch 12News content anytime, anywhere thanks to the 12News+ app!
The free 12News+ app from 12News lets users stream live events — including daily newscasts like "Today in AZ" and "12 News" and our daily lifestyle program, "Arizona Midday"—on Roku and Amazon Fire TV.
12News+ showcases live video throughout the day for breaking news, local news, weather and even an occasional moment of Zen showcasing breathtaking sights from across Arizona.
Users can also watch on-demand videos of top stories, local politics, I-Team investigations, Arizona-specific features and vintage videos from the 12News archives.
Roku: Add the channel from the Roku store or by searching for "12 News KPNX."
Amazon Fire TV: Search for "12 News KPNX" to find the free 12News+ app to add to your account, or have the 12News+ app delivered directly to your Amazon Fire TV through Amazon.com or the Amazon app.
More ways to get 12News
On your phone: Download the 12News app for the latest local breaking news straight to your phone.
On your streaming device: Download 12News+ to your streaming device
The free 12News+ app from 12News lets users stream live events — including daily newscasts like "Today in AZ" and "12 News" and our daily lifestyle program, "Arizona Midday"—on Roku and Amazon Fire TV.
12News+ showcases live video throughout the day for breaking news, local news, weather and even an occasional moment of Zen showcasing breathtaking sights from across Arizona.