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SALT LAKE CITY -- A judge Friday set an October status hearing date for Esar Met, the man accused of kidnapping and killing Hser Ner Moo, a 7-year-old neighbor in South Salt Lake, more than two years ago.
Met's attorney, Michael Peterson, told Judge Judith Atherton he thinks he knows why Met had an outburst in court during a hearing in which he was expected to enter a plea.
Peterson asked for more time to contact Met's family, in hopes they can help finalize a resolution in the capital case.
Prosecutor Rob Parrish said Met only knows how the courts in Burma would deal with the case, if he were to admit to anything.
"If he were to admit anything that he has done that's wrong in his country, he would probably be summarily dealt with," said Parrish. He said that seems to be the catch in a deal prosecutors and defense attorneys are trying to work out.
Parrish would not discuss any terms of the deal, but said the victim's family understands some of the reasons why this case is taking so long.
Parrish told the judge the state had no objection to the additional time for now but said, at some point, the case will have to move forward.
Met was arrested more than two years ago, days after 7-year-old Hser Ner Moo disappeared from her South Salt Lake neighborhood. Police ultimately found her body in Met's apartment.
E-mail: mgiauque@ksl.com
