New developments today on the Berit Beck case who was found murdered in her van back in 1990. A Fond du Lac county judge gave prosecutors a deadline today to file motions necessary to retry Dennis Brantner, the man accused in her murder, after his first trial ended with a hung jury. Dennis Brantner is charged with first degree homicide for the crime but a jury couldn’t come to a unanimous decision of guilt or innocence.
Today a Fond du Lac county judge gave prosecutors until August 15th to decide whether they would like to try Brantner once again for homicide. Just last week a jury deliberated for 3 days on whether Brantner was innocent or guilty, but they couldn't come to a unanimous decision. Now the state and Beck’s family has to decide whether the case is worth trying again.
"We still need to review information and also consult with the Beck family before we make that final determination. We also need approval from the court if we make that request at this point," says Eric Toney the District Attorney in Fond du Lac.
"I believe in my client’s innocence. As of the day I started representing him, I said it after the hung jury last week, I say it again today. So try the case again…" adds Craig Powell Brantner’s attorney.
The district attorney's office says his team is ready and willing to try the case again, but they have made no formal decision. Meanwhile Brantner’s defense maintains their client’s innocence and says that they are prepared for another trial.
