SOUTH SALT LAKE, Utah -- The man accused of killing 7-year-old Hser Ner Moo appeared in court Friday.
Esar Met pleaded not guilty to charges of murder and kidnapping in the death of Hser Ner Moo. He will now go forward to trial and Salt Lake County prosecutors have 60 days to decide whether they will seek the death penalty.
Met is accused of kidnapping the girl from her family's South Salt Lake apartment in 2008. The next day, Hser Ner Moo was found dead in Met's apartment shower.
Testimony at a court hearing last month revealed that Hser Ner Moo had been beaten, raped and strangled.
Through his many court appearances, Esar Met has shown little emotion. There have been complicated issues with the court process becuase Met speaks a particular Burmese dialect.
In court Friday, defense attorneys said they want a transcript of the preliminary hearing and a separate voice recording of the Burmese translation to ensure attorney-client privilage is not violated.
The judge said she would like the case set for trial within the next 65 days.
Prosecutors have 60 days to decide whether or not seek the death penalty against Met. Hser Ner Moo's family has told FOX 13 they would like him to executed for the crime.
Related: Man accused of killing 7-year-old Burmese refugee to stand trial
