GRAND ISLAND, Neb. (AP) - A judge has decided there is enough evidence to try a Nebraska man on charges that he plotted to hire someone to kill his estranged wife.
The York News-Times reports (https://bit.ly/1RVCp1h ) that 37-year-old Robert Honken has been bound over for trial on two charges of conspiracy to commit murder in Hamilton County. The man prosecutors say Honken hired to kill his wife, 30-year-old Derrick Shirley of Bradshaw, is scheduled to be in court for a similar hearing on Tuesday.
Neither man has formally entered a plea in court at this point, and their lawyers were not available on Sunday.
Nebraska State Patrol Sgt. Ryan Phinney testified last week about the evidence against both men, who were arrested last month.
Phinney said Honken tried to hire an undercover officer to kill his wife and went to an ATM to get $500 to pay him up front to cover his expenses.
Shirley told investigators that he had been paid earlier this year to kill Honken’s wife but had backed out. Shirley told investigators that he had driven by Honken’s home at least 20 times to prepare to kill Bethany Honken before deciding not to carry out the crime, Phinney said.
Deputy Hamilton County Attorney Benjamin Dennis said Honken is facing two conspiracy charges because he tried to hire two different people to kill his wife about a month apart.
Defense lawyer Charles Brewster had argued that Honken should only face one conspiracy charge, but Hamilton County Court Judge Linda Caster Senff sided with prosecutors in advancing the case with two charges.
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Information from: York News-Times, https://www.yorknewstimes.com
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