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June 25, 2007Family, Department of Corrections Mourn Loss of Officer
June 25, 2007Allgier Called a Friend with Alleged Confession
June 26, 2007Police: Allgier Killed Officer to Avenge Death of Fellow White Supremacist
June 27, 2007Curtis Allgier Speaks From His Jail Cell
June 29, 2007Sticking Points in Case Against Curtis Allgier
July 2, 2007Prisoner Accused of Killing Officer Appears in Court
Sept. 7, 2007Preliminary Hearing Set for February 20
Jan. 29, 2008Allgier hearing postponed
March 6, 2008 Lawyer asks to be removed from Allgier case
June 22, 2008Public defenders to continue representing Allgier
July 12, 2008Judge steps down from Allgier case
Jan. 13, 2009Accused killer wants new lawyers
Jan. 30, 2009Murder suspect avoids court due to handcuff issue
Feb. 27, 2009Allgier's lawyers in court over letter
March 13, 2009Judge orders Allgier letter unsealed
Aug. 15, 2009High court to review Utah prison guard murder case
March 23, 2010Death penalty sought for inmate in guard's killing
March 24, 2010Man facing death penalty for officer's death to be married
March 30, 2010Preliminary hearing begins in Allgier case
March 31, 2010'Hero' testifies at Allgier hearing
SALT LAKE CITY -- The man accused of killing corrections officer Stephen Anderson in 2007 will stand trial for capital murder. A preliminary hearing wrapped up Thursday for Curtis Allgier.
A judge found there is enough evidence for Allgier to stand trial on all eight charges against him, including capital murder.
"We feel good, not just because of the bind over, but it's taken two and a half years to get here, so we're glad at least this portion has come to fruition," said Salt Lake County prosecutor Robert Stott.
It's also good news for the Anderson's family.
"We're thankful things are moving forward," said Michelle Dehaan, Anderson's daughter. "Because of what he did, it's ... it's too bad that he chose to live that kind of life, I'll say that."
The judge's decision came despite the defense's attempts to amend or reduce some of the charges.
Defense attorneys filed a motion to reduce the three attempted murder charges against Allgier to aggravated assault. Those charges stem from allegations that Allgier tried to run down an officer and shoot an Arby's employee and customer during his escape attempt.
The judge denied the motion.
Allgier's attorney says Allgier was just trying to elude capture because he was scared, and evidence at trial will show that.
"He was trying to get into a safe place, because at that point he was really afraid of police," said attorney Rudy Bautista.
But prosecutors say the charges fit the alleged crimes. They say Allgier shot and killed Anderson with his own gun during a medical visit to University Hospital in June of 2007.[Click here to see image gallery]
After the shooting, Allgier changed clothes at a friend's home and then led police on a chase to an Arby's restaurant. There, he allegedly tried to shoot a clerk and customer.
Now, Bautista says Allgier is sorry for what happened.
"He wants to bring closure so the Anderson family can have some closure on this, and we're hoping, as I said, to resolve this as soon as we can," he said.
Allgier will be back in court on April 12 to enter a plea. Prosecutors say there is no deal on the table, but defense attorneys say that's something they are working toward.
E-mail: syi@ksl.com
