Trial against Leon Stewart scheduled for February

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The man charged with the murder of Darnell Lee Richardson is scheduled for trial next February.

Leon Stewart allegedly shot and killed Richardson while inside a car last March.

Investigators later found four cell phones inside the vehicle, presumably holding important information for the case, according to defense attorney Gabriel Diaz. However, Diaz said the two password-protected cell phones were broken during the investigation and the stored information was lost. The remaining two cell phones have not been touched.

There was also conversation in court about whether the suspect is tied to another homicide. While Stewart was in jail in Sept. 2016, there was a phone call that connected Stewart to the death of a witness in his existing murder case.

Stewart is due in court on Dec. 15 for his next status hearing, and will be held without bond until his Feb. 26 trial.