MIAMI – A man accused of beating his roommate in Miami hoped to be granted bail on Monday, but Byron Mitchell will have to wait at least one more day to learn his fate as prosecutors said they will refile charges against him because of a discrepancy in the arrest report.
Danielle Jones' family members packed the courtroom Monday to face their loved one's accused attacker.
"My heart was beating really, really fast and I felt really upset. All of a sudden, I just got this numb feeling," Jones' mother, Aimee Nikolov, said outside the courtroom, describing the feeling she got when she first saw Mitchell.
The 35-year-old is accused of beating and stabbing Jones, 23, on Valentine's Day, and attempting to cut off her lips and eyelids.
"Right now, it is still day 16 and she's still in a coma," Nikolov said. "She's still in critical condition. We are looking for any little glimmer of hope."
Mitchell stood in court, hoping to bond out of jail, but prosecutors said they're preparing to refile charges against him for attempted first-degree murder.
Police said Mitchell moved in with Jones after she posted an ad on Craigslist looking for a roommate.
They lived together for about a week before the attack.
According to detectives, Mitchell beat Jones before calling 911 and claiming that he beat and stabbed Jones in self-defense.
"It is a joke. He obviously had time to think about it," Nikolov said. "He took a shower and decided what story (he was) going to give (authorities)."
Mitchell is expected to appear in court again on Tuesday.
