TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) - Two suspects in the murder of FSU professor Dan Markel had their first appearances Friday morning, facing new charges.
The attorney for Katherine Magbanua has filed a plea of not guilty to the new charges, but Sigfredo Garcia's attorney says there's no probable cause to either one.
Both defendants appeared before the court Friday morning using the jail's video system. Their attorneys spoke to the judge over the phone.
Garcia's attorney says there's no evidence his client conspired or solicited to commit murder, arguing it's "speculation" and "conjecture" from prosecutors.
The state attorney's office says the new charges stem from the same probable cause affidavit used to file the first-degree murder charge and that the statement of fellow suspect Luis Rivera solidified the new charges.
"I would like to try them together. I do intend to move forward on that. I don't know if I'll be successful with that," said Georgia Cappleman, the assistant state attorney. "In fact, the judge has indicated a little bit that I may be not be, so I don't know the answer to that question, but we'll leave that up to the court."
The judge set bond for both defendants at $200,000 each, despite the objection of Garcia's attorney.
Prosecutors say the new charges don't indicate they're any closer to arresting anyone else.
Garcia and Magbanua already have trial dates for their first-degree murder charges. Garcia's trial starts July 9 and Magbanua's will start Oct. 8.
Both are scheduled to be back in court March 6 at 9 a.m.
