Murder trial for three co-defendants will begin next month

CEDAR RAPIDS - The murder trial for three co-defendants accused of killing Kevin Bell last year remains on track for April 4, in Linn County District Court.

The attorneys for Denem Null, 17, Gabriel Taylor, 17, and Johven Lee, 20, all of Cedar Rapids, who are charged with first-degree murder, said Friday during a pre-trial conference they had no problems or issues to prevent the trial from starting next month.

The trial is expected to last a week and a half.

A motion to try each defendant separately was denied last month.

A final pre-trial conference was also set 1:30 p.m. March 29.

Bell, 26, was shot in the head when Null, Taylor and Lee broke into his apartment at 113 First Ave. SW on Jan. 11, according to a police report. He died the next day.

According to the criminal complaint, Null is accused of firing the shot that killed Bell.