Trial of teen charged with killing Lexington gas station attendant isn't expected for a year

A murder trial for Lexington's Travis Michael Bredhold apparently isn't likely soon.

Bredhold's attorney, public defender Joanne Lynch, told Fayette Circuit Judge Ernesto Scorsone on Friday that September 2015 would be the "absolute earliest" her office can be ready to try the case.

Scorsone continued a status hearing for Bredhold until Oct. 10 while authorities await a report from DNA testing. A trial date apparently could be set at that hearing.

Bredhold, 18, is charged with murder and robbery in the fatal shooting of Marathon gas station attendant Mukeshbhai Patel, 51, on Dec. 9, 2013. Patel died at the University of Kentucky Chandler Hospital shortly after being shot.

Lexington police arrested Bredhold less than 24 hours later.

Police have said surveillance camera footage indicates Patel was trying to comply with a robber's demand for cash when he was shot.

Lynch offered condolences for Patel's family outside the courtroom Friday.

Lynch told Scorsone in court that Bredhold wants to assert his Fifth Amendment rights against being questioned by authorities.

Lynch said her comment was prompted because two Lexington police officers had questioned Bredhold at the Fayette Detention Center about an unrelated matter.

Lynch said she wasn't implying that the government had done anything improper, but she wanted to make clear that Bredhold was asserting his constitutional rights.

Scorsone said he would instruct police to call Lynch in advance if they want to talk with Bredhold.

The Fayette County Commonwealth's Attorneys' office has notified the court that if Bredhold is convicted, prosecutors will ask that jurors be notified of the full range of penalties that could be imposed, up to and including death.

This story was originally published July 11, 2014 at 4:47 PM with the headline "Trial of teen charged with killing Lexington gas station attendant isn't expected for a year."