fbpx

Arraignment of Shooter in German Exchange Student’s Death Set for Wednesday

By Beacon Staff

A Missoula man charged with shooting and killing a German exchange student is scheduled to be arraigned Wednesday morning.

Paul Ryan, the attorney for 29-year-old Markus Kaarma, says his client’s arraignment is set for 10:30 a.m. before District Judge Ed McLean in Missoula.

Kaarma is charged with deliberate homicide in the April 27 death of 17-year-old Diren Dede.

Ryan has said Kaarma will plead not guilty and say he was defending his home after several recent break-ins.

Charging documents allege Kaarma and his girlfriend were frustrated with the burglaries and set up motion sensors and video cameras in their garage. When they saw someone in the garage, prosecutors say Kaarma fired four shots into the darkened garage, hitting Dede in the head and arm.