PINEVILLE — At the pre-trial hearing for one of Bell County’s most high profile murder cases, there was one key person missing: the defendant. David Poppiti, 18, who is charged with the murder of a Bell County Sheriff’s Deputy and his K-9 partner, was not present for the pre-trial hearing on Friday; therefore, a motion was filed to continue the hearing sometime two weeks from now.

The reason? Special Judge Roderick Messer forgot to make arrangements.

“I don’t recall specifically issuing the order” for Poppiti to be transferred, said Messer. The teenage defendant, who has been in jail for over a year and three months, was supposed to be transported by Kentucky State Police from the Whitley County Jail.

Poppiti’s attorney Sam Castle said he assumed his client would be transported and didn’t make any arrangements for him. Castle filed the motion for a continuance out of an “abundance of caution” to continue the hearing so he could have input from his client if necessary.

Commonwealth Attorney Karen Greene Blondell, who represents the prosecution, agreed to file the motion.

“I apologize. That’s something I probably should have looked at,” said Castle, referring to the transportation of his client.

Messer said that the court is required to hold an evidentiary hearing regarding the defendant’s competency in court based on a psychological evaluation, which would require a medical doctor to be present. The pre-trial hearing and evidentiary hearing will be scheduled soon.

Poppiti, who’s from Delaware, and his passenger Eric J. Gerren, 17, allegedly left a Harlan County gas station without paying for their $38 tank of gas early on Sunday, Jan. 10, 2008. A high-speed chase ensued into Bell County, on U.S. Hwy. 119. The chase ended when Poppiti’s vehicle left the highway and crashed into Deputy Sean Pursifull’s cruiser, parked off of the roadway, according to a KSP report. Pursifull and his police dog, King, died on the scene.

Poppiti is currently being held at Whitley County jail. He was moved there in June of last year from the Adair County Juvenile Detention Center, upon turning 18-years-old.

Stephen Woodward is a Staff Writer for the Daily News. He may be contacted at swoodward@middlesborodailynews.com.