A judge has reportedly upheld all charges against a man accused of slaying Temple University student Jenna Burleigh.
Neighbor Noelle Sterling was one of 10 witnesses who testified during Wednesday’s preliminary hearing. According to The Philadelphia Inquirer, Sterling, who lived above the suspect, recalled hearing banging at around 2:15 a.m. on August 31 and called Temple Police. At around 4 a.m., she allegedly heard screaming and contacted police a second time.
“I don’t think I got to sleep before the screaming started,” she testified during the seven-hour hearing.
“It sounded terrifying, almost like if you were in a horror movie and a girl screamed, but it was worse.”
KYW-TV reported that prosecutors presented the medical examiner’s report–which listed 123 injuries found on the 22-year-old’s body–in addition to DNA reports and surveillance video which showed Burleigh and Joshua Hupperterz, 29, walking from a college bar to Hupperterz’ North Philadelphia apartment, where he allegedly murdered her.
As CrimeOnline previously reported, detectives found Burleigh’s battered body at Hupperterz’s grandparents’ home in Paupack Township on September 2. Pennsylvania State Police Corporal Benjamin Clark claimed her body was placed in a plastic bin, according to The Inquirer.
Authorities believe the accused killed Burleigh at his Philadelphia apartment before transporting her body to his mother’s home in Jenkintown and finally moving her to his grandmother’s house in Paupack Township.
ORIGINAL STORY: Missing Temple college student found dead; suspect found with ‘scratches on his face’ and blood spatter inside apartment
Suffering extensive injuries, the Wayne County coroner ultimately ruled that the 22-year-old died from blunt trauma and strangulation.
Despite this, defense attorney David Nenner argued that the pair engaged in consensual sex on the night in question. The defense attempted to discredit police reports before pushing for voluntary manslaughter charges.
The judge remained skeptical and ruled that Hupperterz will still stand trial for homicide, abuse of a corpse, and assault charges.
Hupperterz is scheduled to appear in court in December.
[Featured Image: Joshua Hupperterz and Jenna Burleigh/Handout]
