KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Knox County prosecutors -- unsurprisingly -- confirmed Wednesday they plan to seek a 15-year-old boy's transfer from juvenile court so he can stand trial as an adult in a 13-year-old friend's killing.
Knox County Assistant District Attorney General Tammy Hicks told Knox County Juvenile Court Judge Tim Irwin the state was in the process of filing the appropriate paperwork. Hicks followed through later in the morning.
Irwin convened the prosecution as well as defense attorney Josh Hedrick to check on the status of the case.
Malakiah L. Harris is accused of second-degree murder in a juvenile petition. Knox County authorities say he stabbed Savannah Copeland repeatedly early Oct. 22 with a pocketknife while on a trail near the Broadacres neighborhood. Harris then left her body, and "citizens" found her many hours later, the motion to transfer states.
Copeland's father, Michael, told WBIR he wants to see Harris stand trial as an adult.
Harris, who sat quietly Wednesday morning in court during the hearing, is being held in juvenile custody awaiting prosecution. The state's decision to seek a transfer was not unexpected considering the violent nature of the attack.
The transfer notice is just one step in a lengthy process that Harris and attorney Hedrick will face in the juvenile system.
Irwin reminded the attorneys Wednesday he'll have to consider several legal factors. It's his decision ultimately on whether Harris moves over to adult status.
The judge will have to conduct a "probable cause" hearing to review state evidence against Harris.
Assuming he agrees that Harris probably killed the child, the judge then also will have to consider the teen's mental health. That will almost certainly require evaluation by experts plus an assessment of his history. Harris lived with his grandfather and several siblings at the time of the killing.
Third, Irwin would also have to consider if the interests of society at large dictate that Harris be moved from the juvenile system to Knox County Criminal Court.
The juvenile system tries to rehabilitate young people accused of crimes and give them a chance at a trouble-free life. But in the case of violent crimes, a judge will take a harder look at what the juvenile is accused of and whether it makes more sense for the juvenile to be prosecuted as an adult.
Hedrick said he guessed the case faces at least six to eight months in juvenile court before there's a resolution, although he deferred to Irwin's judgment. Hicks said prosecutors didn't want to concede it could take that long.
The next key date: Jan. 14. That's the prosecution's deadline to turn over evidence to Hedrick.
Assistant District Attorney General Rachel Hill told Irwin the results from genetic testing and other forensic testing might not be back by January.
