EL PASO COUNTY — A judge in El Paso County ruled Monday that Malik Murphy will stand trial.
Murphy is accused of stabbing his younger siblings to death in October of 2017. He's facing six total counts, including two counts of first-degree murder and attempted first-degree murder in connection to the stabbings.
In October of 2018, Murphy entered a plea of not guilty by reason of insanity. At a court appearance in March of 2019, it was revealed that a state psychologist determined Murphy was sane. His defense team had requested a second opinion but were unable to get it and so the court will go with the state's recommendation.
Murphy has also waived his right to a speedy trial and a trial date has been set for Feb. 18, 2020. He will be back in court on Dec. 13, 2019 for a motions hearing.
According to Police, Murphy planned to "kill his entire family and bury them in the backyard." On the night of Oct. 17, 2017, 5-year-old Sophia Murphy and 7-year-old Noah Murphy were killed where they slept in the family home on Carlisle St. Murphy allegedly attacked his father when he reacted to screaming from the children's room. His father was stabbed in the neck but managed to overpower Murphy and hold him until police arrived.
Murphy was 19-years-old at the time of the attack.
When police question Murphy's father, he told officers that his son had "talked about doing this previously."
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