Suspect Charged In Fatal Assault Of DE High School Student In Court

WILMINGTON, De (CBS) – On Tuesday morning at approximately 8:30, one of the teenagers charged in the death of a Delaware high school student appeared in court for a case review.

The 16-year-old was charged with criminally negligent homicide in the death of Amy Joyner Francis.

At the review, a judge decided that a hearing will be set to determine whether or not the teen should be tried as an adult. According to family spokesperson Sherry Dorsey Walker, that hearing is set for July 11th.

Investigators say Amy Joyner-Francis died as a result of an assault that took place on April 21 inside the restroom at Howard High School.

Authorities say the teen is the person who hit Joyner-Francis and sparked the injury that led to her death. Prosecutors said they would seek to have her tried as an adult due to "the severity of her offense," which is punishable by up to eight years in prison.

It was ruled that Joyner-Francis died from a cardiac incident that took place because of a pre-existing condition. It was determined that if the assault had not taken place, the cardiac incident would not have occurred.

Prosecutors want a family court judge to transfer the case to superior court.