Tucker Cipriano, Friend Pleaded Not Guilty to Murder Charges

Tucker Cipriano, 19, and Mitchell Young, 20, pleaded not guilty on the five felony charges they face in connection with the April 16 attack that left Tucker's father dead and his mother and brother critically injured.

The two appeared in Oakland County Circuit Court Tuesday afternoon for an arraignment and face the following charges:

•  First-degree premeditated murder

•  Attempted murder

•   Armed robbery

The two were arraigned separately, and each arraignment lasted just a few minutes. Neither Young nor Cipriano spoke, as their attorneys spoke on their behalf.

Young is now scheduled to have a pre-trial on July 31 at 1:30 p.m. in Oakland County Circuit Court. Cipriano's pre-trial is set for Sept. 4 at 1:30 p.m. in order to allow for enough time to complete a mental health examination, which his lawyer requested.

Cipriano’s lawyer, Mitchell Ribitwer, said he wants to see if Cipriano is competent enough to understand what is going on with the trial and to assist him as his lawyer in his defense. Ribitwer said that he would like to see if Cipriano’s long-term drug use could have impacted his mental health.

“Some of the things he has said to me raises concern with regard to his mental status and his ability to recall a number of certain events,” Ribitwer said in a press conference after the arraignment.

Ribitwer added that he might be contesting the statements of the police in the future depending on the results of the competency exam, which could shed light on Cipriano’s state of mind when talking to police.  

In a press conference after the hearing, Young’s attorney said he plans to make a motion to ask for separate trials for two defendants.