A 32-year-old Hutchinson man will have to await trial a little longer after his defense attorney requested more time to prepare.
The defense has starting filing some of the usual motions, including a motion in Limine. This means that the defense wants to keep the past criminal history of Joshua Bourell from being presented when the case goes before a jury.
They consider it immaterial, irrelevant and inadmissible at trial, yet a judge has to decide what can be presented and what can’t. Judge Trish Rose granted the defense request.
The trial was scheduled to begin on June 4, but Judge Rose granted the continuance which means the trial will be in August.
It was a year ago, on May 25, when Bourell allegedly entered a Hutchinson woman’s home and attempted to take the keys to her vehicle saying he needed to get out of town.
Bourell faces trial on charges of aggravated robbery, aggravated burglary, criminal threat, and four counts of auto burglary, aggravated assault and felony interference with law enforcement. He is also charged with a misdemeanor charge of criminal damage to property.
The case centers on Bourell allegedly walking down West B street, trying to break into vehicles and in some cases succeeding, then asking people for their keys, all of which turned him down, so he allegedly entered a home in the 600 block of West B and tried to get a woman’s keys by force, and possibly other items. The woman had two small children in the home at the time. A neighbor apparently observing him knew he shouldn’t be there and confronted him. He was held until police could arrive. He was apparently telling people he needed to get out of town.
Bourell had been granted a mental evaluation at Horizon’s Mental Health Center and had been found competent for the case to continue.