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The brutal murder of Hser Nay Moo shocked neighbors and other South Salt Lake residents. Yet the man accused of her murder has yet to have his preliminary hearing.
It has been more than eight months since the tragic death of 7-year-old Hser Nay Moo, and life at the South Parc Townhomes in South Salt Lake is getting back to normal.
Complex Manager Juanita Huertero said, "We do remember Hser Nay Moo and her family. I mean, I don't think I'll ever get ‘over' that."
Huertero says the residents now seem a little closer and more protective of each other. "Parents are out in everybody's homes, each visiting each other. The parents are also keeping an eye out on the kids a lot more as they're outside, even if it's not their own children," she said.
One of the things bringing residents closer together is the community center built in what used to be one of the apartment units in the complex, in honor of Hser Nay Moo. After-school programs for children and English as a Second Language classes for adults are held in the center. Huertero says it's busier and more popular than they anticipated.
"We knew that we had a good turnout for the ESL [classes], but as soon as the community center opened, it just grew," she said.
The initial charges against accused killer Esar Met were filed in April. It's November, and he hasn't even had a preliminary hearing yet. What's taking so long? Well, first of all, aggravated murder cases usually last longer than other cases do.
Salt Lake County Deputy District Attorney Alicia Cook said, "These cases involve a great deal more work. They typically involve a great deal more evidence, more witnesses than any other case that we are going to file."
Cook says this case requires some special translation services that they don't normally need.
"Interpretation does tend to lengthen a court hearing. It does make things go a bit slower. Obviously everything is doubled because it's going through the interpreter," she said.
When the preliminary hearing does begin Dec. 9, it will be given much more time than a regular preliminary hearing. Three days have been set aside for the proceeding.
"Usually the judges will put a number of cases, anywhere from 15 to 20 cases on a same morning or afternoon," Cook said.
Cook says the preliminary hearing might not last three days, but if it lasts longer, they may have to wait several more weeks to find an open court date to extend the hearing.
E-mail: pnelson@ksl.com
