A judge agreed Monday to supply more funds for a private investigator in the case of a man accused of murdering a Yankton woman last April.
Nicholas Stewart Hines was found at 1008 Willow Lane early April 9 with an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head after allegedly killing 25-year-old Brianna Marie Knoll. He has been charged with first-degree murder.
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When Hines entered the Yankton County courtroom for Monday morning’s hearing, a woman yelled out his first name before being consoled by those around her.
Once the proceedings got under way, defense attorney Dan Fox filed a motion to increase the funding authority for Tim Mulloy of Starr Enterprises in Sioux Falls. Circuit Judge Glen Eng previously agreed to the state providing the defense up to $2,500 for his investigative services.
According to Fox, Mulloy has reviewed all the material relevant to the case, which consumed a significant amount of time. More interviews and other evidence collecting still needs to be completed, he said, and the investigator has reached the limit of the funding authority. Fox assured the court that the additional work is important and not extraneous.
When asked for his input on the request, Yankton County deputy state’s attorney Erich Johnke said he found it difficult to comment without knowing more about the work being done. However, he stated that he did not object to an additional $2,500 being granted as long as there is a just cause meeting if more funding is solicited.
Eng granted an additional $2,500, and also requested that the charges up to this point be supplied to the court to ensure the investigation is moving forward in a timely manner. The cost report will be kept sealed. Eng added that he has no reason to believe that the investigative costs are not reasonable.
Also Monday, Fox informed the court that Hines will undergo a psychiatric evaluation by Dr. David Bean on Dec. 7.
Recognizing that the subsequent report often takes some time to complete, Eng chose not to schedule a status hearing in the case until well after the evaluation has taken place. The next court appearance for Hines was set for 11 a.m. Jan. 23.
