BOULDER — Luke Pelham, one of two men accused of beating a developmentally disabled man to death last year, on Friday was scheduled to stand trial in October, although his attorneys indicated a plea deal is likely to end the case before then.
Pelham, 19, is charged with first-degree felony murder, second-degree murder with a deadly weapon, first-degree assault on an at-risk victim, aggravated robbery and first-degree burglary.
At an arraignment Friday morning, Ben Collett, Pelham’s attorney, said the prosecution had offered a plea deal, but Collett needed more time to talk it over with his client.
In March, Collett said he felt a plea deal could be reached, and Friday he reiterated that belief.
But Boulder prosecutor Sean Finn asked that the case still be set for trial because of the time that has elapsed since the killing.
“It’s obviously a case that has been around for a while,” Finn said. “I don’t see the value in delaying it at this point.”
District Judge Patrick Butler agreed that the case should be set for trial.
The other suspect in the death of Aaron Tuneberg, Austin Holford, 19, has pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and three other felonies and is set for sentencing in May. He will be sentenced to 48 to 70 years in prison.
Both are accused of fatally beating Tuneberg while trying to steal his Xbox.
