Man charged with murder of Auburn football player has arraignment set for unrelated gun, DUI charges

The man charged with the murder of former Auburn football player Jakell Mitchell is scheduled to be arraigned and stand trial for unrelated charges of possessing a gun, driving under the influence and two traffic violations in Tallapoosa County.

Markale Hart is scheduled to be arraigned before Tallapoosa County circuit court judge Steven Perryman at 9 a.m. on Oct. 19 for a felony gun charge, DUI an open container and improper lane change stemming from his arrest in Dadeville on Feb. 26, while he was out on bond for the murder charge, according to an indictment. His trial in Tallapoosa County is scheduled for 9 a.m. on Nov. 27 and court records show the charge against Hart for receiving stolen property was no billed.

Hart is being held without bond before his murder trial in Lee County scheduled for Dec. 4.

He is charged with the murder of Mitchell after a fatal shooting at the Tiger Lodge at Auburn apartment complex on Dec. 14, 2014. During an immunity hearing last year, Hart admitted to shooting Mitchell, but claimed it was in self-defense.

The murder trial, which was scheduled to begin Dec. 5 of last year, has repeatedly been delayed. It was initially continued due to a witness for the defense being unavailable, then jury selection scheduled for June 12 was delayed due to conflicts with other cases and last month it was delayed yet again due to the unavailability of a forensic expert.

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