Bullock's Lawyers Get Another Preliminary Hearing

The man accused of killing 13-year-old Cori Baker, Marquis Bullock, had a court date on Thursday.  There was a hearing on two big issues.  The News On 6's crime reporter Lori Fullbright reports the issues involve new evidence and a request to move Bullock's trial.

It was last fall when 13-year-old Cori Baker disappeared.  Witnesses say her sister's boyfriend, Marquis Bullock, picked her up from school that day.

He was arrested and charged with murder and a judge ordered him to stand trial, even though at that time, her body had not been found.

Tulsa Police testified that Bullock told them she'd died accidentally near the Arkansas River, but real answers came three months later when part of her remains were found at a paintball park in Creek County.

"Even after this  many months, certain days, you wake up and have to think, could this possibly be happening? Is this real?" said her father, Daniel Baker.

Bullock's attorney had argued the case should not be tried in Tulsa County, because Cori's remains were found in Creek County.  However, the judge said the case would stay where it is.

Bullock's attorney also felt he should get another preliminary hearing, because now there's a medical examiner's report and still no cause of death for Cori Baker.  The judge agreed to part of that request.

"The judge ordered the case back for additional preliminary hearing, not to start over, not to do anything other than introduce evidence of a medical examination," said Tulsa County Assistant District Attorney Bill Musseman.

In the meantime, Baker's family shows up at each court date, wearing T-shirts of support.  Cori's father struggles every day with the Cori's death and all he's lost.

"The last couple of weeks, in the newspaper, back to school ads, walk into a department store, I just want to cry because of that realization I'm not buying school supplies" said her father, Daniel Baker.

Related stories:

6/26/2008  Murder Charge Stands Against Marquis Bullock

6/1/2008  Marquis Bullock Wants Case Dismissed

3/31/2008  Marquis Bullock Appears In Court

3/25/2008  More Of Cori Baker's Remains Found

3/24/2008  Detectives Search For Additional Remains

3/18/2008  Marquis Bullock Ordered To Trial

2/25/2008  Defense Team Seeks Release For Marquis Bullock