The 10 people charged in the death of Nazerah Bugg are due back in court April 18.
HACKENSACK -- The suspects accused in the shooting death of a 14-year-old Paterson girl took another small step toward trial Monday.
After a long delay, the lawyers for Jeavonte Dennis, Quajeir Culbreath, Jalon Brown, Devonte Lewis, Tyheem Mayfield, Nyje Johnson, Knolaisha Washington, Shakeem Ricks, Nyjeir Barrett and Baseem Williams, received grand jury transcripts Friday.
Judge James J. Guida on Monday gave attorneys about six weeks to review the more than 1,000 pages in testimony.
The 10 defendants have all pleaded not guilty to charges tying them to the death of Nazerah Bugg, a promising young basketball talent who was walking in her neighborhood the night of Sept. 20, 2014 when she was shot by a group of people, prosecutors have said. She does not appear to have been the target of the shooting.
A grand jury indicted Ricks, Williams, Mayfield, Johnson, Lewis, Culbreath and Dennis on attempted murder charges. Barrett, Washington and Brown were indicted on charges of hindering the apprehension of the shooting suspects.
Joe Harris, the attorney for Washington, said his client would apply for pre-trial intervention.
The case is being tried in Bergen County because a relative of Nazerah's works in the Passaic County criminal court.
The defendants are due back before Judge Guida at 1:30 p.m. April 18.
Myles Ma may be reached at mma@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MylesMaNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.