Patricia Ennis has been certified to stand trial as an adult and a judge admonished her to follow the rules while she remains detained.
SAN ANTONIO — A murder case is inching its way forward now in juvenile court involving a girl who was just 14-years-old when she was accused of killing a man.
The details of the knife attack remain disturbing, as the victim’s throat was slashed.
Patricia Ennis, who has been certified to stand trial as an adult, is 15 now and she stands accused of killing 53-year-old Ray Alan Hardy Junior at his home.
It happened last December on Stutts Drive in east San Antonio.
Since Ennis is now in the adult system, she no longer has detention hearings every ten days but remains in custody at the Juvenile Detention Center because of her age.
Court documents related to the case remain sealed, but initially when she was certified, court records indicated her bond has been set at $250,000.
Attorneys involved in the case had a status hearing, where they discussed where they stand in preparing for trial.
While she was in court, Ennis asked for and received permission to speak with Judge Cruz Shaw.
The exchange included:
Ennis: You told me last time that I would see you that I needed to improve on my behavior if I wanted to get where I wanted to go. OK, I’ve improved on my behavior.
Judge Shaw: Have you?
Ennis: I have actually, I promise.
The judge then asked about a discipline issue in detention.
Shaw: What did you do last weekend?
Ennis: I was provoked, but that doesn’t change what I did.
Judge Shaw: Exactly. So I’m glad you’re thinking that through. You can’t do things like that because if you did that on the adult side, you would have been laying in a cell somewhere. So, you have not held up your end of the bargain!
Ennis: I have tried my best!
Judge Shaw: I don’t need you to try. I need you to do!
Ennis: I’ve done my best. I really have.
Judge Shaw: Okay. Your best is not good enough right now.
No announcement was made about an upcoming court date, so it’s not clear when the teen will return for another hearing. Her attorney agreed to meet with her in another week or so.
As they have in the past, family members sat in the gallery watching the proceedings without comment.