The preliminary examination for a homeless man accused of fatally beating another man inside an Ypsilanti Township home has been rescheduled for July to make time for a list of witnesses the prosecution has asked to testify.

Chief Washtenaw County District Court Judge Kirk Tabbey said he plans to clear his schedule for July 22 in anticipation of Keithen Potter’s hearing in the killing of David Harold Bennett. When it came time Thursday for Potter to come before the court following several other cases, it seemed not possible to fit the hearing into one afternoon, Tabbey said.

“There are several witnesses the people intends on calling and I don’t think we would have even gotten to them today,” assistant Washtenaw County Prosecutor Dianna Collins said.

Collins said she received several new reports Thursday morning in Potter’s case and also needed additional time to review the information.

Keithen Potter

According to police, Bennett died of blunt force trauma after a fight broke out overnight May 11 at his home in the 700 block of Dorset Avenue in Ypsilanti Township’s West Willow neighborhood. Police found Bennett’s body at 6:30 a.m. May 12.

At Potter’s May 14 arraignment, Sheriff’s Detective Jamie Stitt testified that Potter has prior convictions of home invasion and resisting and obstructing police. Stitt said Potter is homeless, but has stayed with his mother, who lives across the street from where the crime occurred. It is not clear what connection, if any, Potter had with Bennett.

Potter’s mother was present Thursday when her son’s hearing was adjourned, but declined to comment.

A friend of Bennett’s, John Kinder, said in May that Bennett had grown up in the home where the crime occurred and moved back years earlier to care for his dying mother. Bennett stayed there after she died because of fond memories he had in the neighborhood, Kinder said.

Collins told Tabbey in court Thursday that she intends to pursue an added charge of larceny in a building before Potter’s case is bound over to circuit court. She did not comment further on the basis of that charge.

Potter’s preliminary examination is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. July 22 in Washtenaw County 14A District Court. He remains jailed without bond.

Heidi Fenton covers police and courts for AnnArbor.com. Reach her at heidifenton@annarbor.com or 734-623-4673. You also can follow her on Twitter or subscribe to AnnArbor.com's e-mail newsletters.