The Ypsilanti Courier
A Heritage Newspaper
Weekly Publication
Taylor's pretrial held to June
By Dan DuChene, Staff Writer
PUBLISHED: May 17, 2007
The pretrial for the suspect accused of raping and murdering an Eastern Michigan University student, in December, was adjourned until June 13.
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Originally scheduled for May 9, in downtown Ann Arbor, the pretrial was adjourned to allow time for Orange Amir Taylor III's defense to collect and dispute evidence.
Taylor is being held on charges of open murder, criminal sexual misconduct, home invasion and larceny involving the death of 22-year-old Laura Dickinson.
Dickinson is presumed to have died in the early hours of Dec. 13. She was found in her Hill Hall dormitory room at EMU two days later. Her body was left wearing only a white tank top pushed up to her chest and her knees spread apart with a pillow covering part of her face.
At Taylor's preliminary exam in March, it was announced that DNA matching Taylor was found on the pillow, on her bed sheet and on her inner thigh.
"We are of the opinion that he was never on the bed and never had sex with her," said Alvin Keel, Taylor's defense attorney.
Keel said the defense is conducting its own investigation, and disputing the DNA evidence presented. The defense's DNA testing, which could take some time, might not be completed before the next scheduled pre-trial, Keel said.
Steve Hiller, Washtenaw County's deputy chief assistant prosecutor, said, "Defendants have every right to challenge all evidence."
The prosecuting attorney at the pretrial, Blaine Longsworth, did not challenge the defense's request to adjourn the hearing. When asked if the prosecution would challenge a second adjournment in June, Hiller said, "We're going to have to see what the situation is."
Aside from their DNA testing, Keel said the rape kit performed on Dickinson came up negative. He said police also collected DNA samples from two other men in the investigation, but did not test those samples against Taylor's.
Hiller had no comment about specific evidence in the case. "That is something we will discuss in court," he said.
After the pretrial, Taylor's family was talking in the lobby outside the courtroom. His parents said they still maintain their son's innocence in the face of the charges against him.
"I'm praying that justice be done," said Tina Taylor, the suspect's mother. "I'm praying for the family that lost their daughter."
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