HURON – A judge considered a number of additional prosecution and defense motions in the first-degree murder cases against Kevin Krueger and Jose Vega at a Thursday hearing as their separate jury trials draw closer.
Vega, 33, of Montevideo, Minn., and Krueger, 51, of rural Huron, are charged in the May 2016 beating death of Keith Houck, 49, of rural Huron.
Beadle County State’s Attorney Mike Moore has informed the court that the state is not seeking the death penalty.
In the motions hearing before Circuit Judge Jon Erickson, Moore asked that the two men have a consolidated trial, that the judge set an immediate trial date and that the date be moved closer.
The judge denied the request for a consolidated trial. Vega is scheduled to go on trial July 12, and Erickson tentatively set Krueger’s trial for July 31.
The attorneys have indicated they believe each trial will take about a week.
Vega’s attorneys filed a motion to suppress statements based on his right to counsel. The judge asked them to file a brief laying out their position.

A motion by Krueger’s attorneys for a change of venue was denied at this time, but the judge will reconsider it after the Vega trial.
Their motion to exclude the press from the courtroom when the attorneys are selecting a jury and during pre-trial proceedings was denied.
But the judge granted a motion restricting the attorneys from talking to the media about the cases.
A motion to require the prosecution to produce jail records was granted in both cases. The judge took under advisement a request for additional court-appointed attorney compensation.
A motion by the Krueger attorneys for a mitigation specialist was denied, as was a request for a jury consultant.
A defense team motion to have medical, dental and psychological records of Houck made available was granted but only for psychological records.
A request for disclosure of criminal records of the state’s witnesses was granted for the defendants, Houck and lay witnesses for the prosecution.
Defense attorneys for Krueger also filed a motion for additional tests of evidence. The judge asked them to submit a list of what they want tested and what type of test they want before he will decide.
The judge denied a request for a psycho-pharmacology expert to testify on drug issues.
Also, the questionnaire to be sent to the pool of potential jurors will be shortened to reflect the fact that the death penalty is now off the table.
Both Krueger and Vega remained jailed at the Regional Correction Center.
Houck died May 31, 2016 at Krueger’s home in rural Beadle County, authorities have said. His body was discovered June 3, 2016 by law enforcement officers. An autopsy revealed that Houck died of blunt force trauma to the head.