FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) — The teen boy prosecutors say shot and killed Caleb Quick at a Clovis McDonald’s last year returned to court on Wednesday.
He walked in wearing a purple shirt, looking right at Caleb’s family.
The judge called the court to order, but the suspect’s parents were still in the waiting room. His defense attorney then paused the hearing to go get them herself.
“We’ll try this again,” the judge said when the boy’s parents entered the courtroom.
He then granted attorneys another delay, postponing the high-stakes transfer hearing until this summer.
“It’s frustrating for sure,” Caleb’s father, Steve Quick, said later.
Quick, with prosecutors, is pushing for the teen boy to face justice in adult court, where potential punishment is much longer.
But the boy’s defense has objected. They have hired experts to evaluate the boy and find reasons for him to stay in the juvenile system.
Prosecutors tell Action News they are “hopeful” the case can move forward by June.
“This doesn’t benefit Caleb, doesn’t benefit our families at all that are the victims in this situation,” Quick said.
It will begin on Monday and could last up to one week at the courthouse downtown.
Attorneys on both sides will call on experts to make their case.
“They’re going to be presenting evidence, a lot of evidence that hasn’t been put out yet to the media and the community,” Quick said. “A lot of video evidence.”
Next week’s critical hearing tees up a decision about the girl’s case that is likely to come a few days before the first anniversary of Caleb’s death.
“This is a huge step in the right direction or the wrong direction,” Quick said. “Either way, it’s a huge step in the process.”
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