Peete murder trial remains on schedule for Nov. 12

Staff report

WARREN

A Nov. 12 Trumbull County jury trial for Derrick Peete, 23, charged with aggravated murder, remains on schedule despite Peete’s attorney’s asking Thursday for the trial to be delayed.

Atty. Heidi Hanni asked Judge Ronald Rice of common pleas court for Peete’s trial to be delayed because of a trial he faces in federal court related to heroin-trafficking charges.

Hanni asked Judge Rice if the trial could be delayed because of a potential conflict with proceedings in a federal criminal case that carries a possible life prison sentence, but Judge Rice said the charges in his court also carry the potential for a life prison sentence, so he’s not delaying the county trial.

Peete and Dale A. Hatch, 25, both of Detroit, are charged with aggravated murder, attempted aggravated murder, tampering with evidence, felonious assault and other charges in the Nov. 11, 2012, killing of Marco Dukes, 32, of Warren.

Police said the Dukes killing and gunshot injury to another man resulted from a “major gunbattle” behind an apartment building on Elm Road near downtown. Authorities said the shooting was drug-related.