Pre-trial conference starts for 1st degree murder case

On Friday morning, The defense and state gathered for Timothy Blaney’s pre-trial.

In 2016, the Pocatello Police Department charged Blaney, 20, with first degree murder for the death of Skylar T. Huffield.

According to Pocatello Police, officers responded to a disturbance at 3842 Hawthorne Road. When the officers arrived they found a severely injured Huffield who was taken by ambulance to Portneuf Regional Medical Center. Huffield later died from those injuries.

During the pre-trial the defense said this should not be a 1st degree murder case. Instead they said it should be considered a voluntary manslaughter case. The state argued that Blaney showed malice and premeditation. The judge is taking the defenses argument about this under advisement.

A trail date is set for August 15th.