Alleged murderer Brian Mitchell will face jury trial
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EDITOR’S NOTE: EastIdahoNews.com had a video camera inside the courtroom. Read our full report on the hearing with all the new details and video of witness testimony here.
IDAHO FALLS — The father of a teenager accused of murdering a man at Tautphaus Park says he’s sorry two lives have been ruined.
Mike Mitchell spoke with EastIdahoNews.com at the Bonneville County Courthouse on the afternoon of Wednesday, Oct. 21, after a judge ruled his son, Brian Mitchell, will face a jury trial in district court.
Brian Mitchell, 18, faces a second-degree murder charge in connection to the death of Deraek Larson.
Larson, 31, was found dead on playground equipment in Tautphaus Park at 10 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 16. Police say Mitchell stabbed him between 20 and 27 times in the back, front, neck and head.
Mitchell claims Larson tried to sexually assault him on the playground equipment after the two had been drinking.
During a preliminary hearing Wednesday, three police detectives described what Mitchell told them during interviews. They also testified about evidence found on the playground and events that led up to Larson’s death.
Mitchell and Larson both had family and friends in the courtroom. Larson’s family declined to comment after the hearing.
Mike Mitchell says he talks to his son as often as he can. He said his family feels “horrible” about what happened and holds no ill will toward anyone.
Mitchell will be arraigned in district court Nov. 3.