Deshaun Hill killing: Cody Fohrenkam due back in court for hearing Monday

Cody Fohrenkam due in court for hearing

Cody Fohrenkam is set to appear in court on Monday for a hearing. He faces a retrial later this year in the death of 15-year-old Deshaun Hill Jr. FOX 9?s Bill Keller has the latest.

MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) - Cody Fohrenkam, whose murder conviction was overturned in the death of Minneapolis North athlete Deshaun Hill Jr., returned to court Monday afternoon.  

Court hearing

What we know:

Attorneys were fighting over a number of legal issues, including questions about the photo line-up that led to Fohrenkam’s arrest, and whether to admit video from his interrogation as evidence at the upcoming trial.  

In Fohrenkam's hearing Monday, the defense argued that Minneapolis police didn't follow the guidelines and were far too suggestive during a photo line-up that is set to be used as evidence in his retrial. Therefore, the evidence should be tossed. 

The defense also focused on eyewitness identification, citing it was too unreliable. 

In March, a judge initially allowed the prosecution to use identification evidence in the retrial. Now the judge will consider the defense's arguments to toss the evidence and make a ruling in the coming weeks. 

What's next:

Fohrenkam's trial is still expected to start on Nov. 3. 

The backstory:

Fohrenkam was initially convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to more than 38 years in prison for the February 2022 fatal shooting of 15-year-old Hill, which happened not far from the Minneapolis North Community High School. 

However, the Minnesota Court of Appeals reversed his conviction in 2024, citing in part that the prosecutors "committed prejudicial misconduct during arguments" and that the state failed to show Fohrenkam’s statements were lawfully obtained.