Westhope Murder Suspect in Court - KXNet - Bismarck/Minot/Williston/Dickinson

Westhope Murder Suspect in Court

A Westhope man charged with killing another Westhope man this month, asked for a court appointed attorney today.

48 year old Timothy Mundt is charged with class Double A murder in the death of 40 year-old Jessie Kirk.

Investigators say Mundt shot and killed Kirk with a rifle in the first week of February, but they are not releasing any details about the case right now.

In court today in Bottineau, Mundt asked Judge Michael Sturdevant for a court appointed attorney.

Bottineau County Assistant State's Attorney Swain Benson says the facts of the case won't come out until Mundt's preliminary hearing.

(Swain Benson, Bottineau Co. Asst. State's Attorney) "We're keeping information kind of tight here until the defendant gets an attorney and I want to obviously protect the case and not say anything out of school. He's applying for a court appointed attorney so at the next court appearance they're determine whether or not there'll be a preliminary hearing. At a preliminary hearing more facts will be put on the record."

If Mundt qualifies for having a court-appointed attorney, the judge in the case said it would most likely be a Rugby-based attorney who comes to Bottineau once a month for court proceedings.

Mundt's next court appearance is scheduled for March 19th.