HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The 26-year-old Hutchinson man charged after a domestic case where a woman was nearly killed was arraigned Friday morning where through his attorney, he entered “not guilty” pleas.
Marcus Batiste is charged with attempted second-degree murder, attempted aggravated kidnapping-domestic violence and aggravated battery.
He and the victim had been to a local club and once parked in front of a Hutchinson home, began arguing. He then struck her, so she began honking the horn to try to get attention and help. A third person who heard the horn began yelling at him to leave her alone and that person called police.
Batiste is suspected of pulling her from the vehicle, then beating, kicking and choking her to the point that she lost consciousness. She also had as many as four staples in her head, which were discovered when she was at Hutchinson Regional Medical Center for treatment. When police arrived, she had regained consciousness and was attempting to get away from Batiste. She was taken to the hospital where she was treated and released.
Judge Trish Rose set a trial date of April 7 and a pretrial date of March 27. The maximum sentencing range for the first two charges is over 20 years in prison.
Bond in the case remains at $200,000.