Trial date set for man accused of a 2007 murder

MOBILE, Ala. (WALA) - A trial date has finally been set for the man accused of killing Stephen Perret. The murder happened in 2007, but Michael Crocker wasn’t arrested for the killing until 2011.  

Michael Crocker pleaded not guilty to the murder of Stephen Perret.

"He brutally wounded his coworker, who was also his next door neighbor and friend. He injured himself to try to throw law enforcement off his trial," said Lt. Paul Burch with the Mobile County Sheriff's Office.

The murder happened in 2007. Deputies said Crocker cut off part of his own tongue, after he heard the investigation was pointing in his direction. Deputies said Perret found out Crocker was stealing money from the company from which they worked. Crocker wasn't arrested for the killing until 2011, some four years later.

"Sometimes, through the course of the investigation, it takes some time to get all the i's dotted and t's crossed before you're ready to indict someone," Burch said.

Crocker claims deputies have the wrong man. Crocker's wife was in court, but did not want to talk.

Skip Brutkiewicz is Crocker's attorney.

"We're going to mount a vigorous defense, and I feel good about this case, and we look forward to going to court," said Brutkiewicz.

The judge set the trial for October 21.

Crocker and his wife were also arrested for tax evasion in 2011, just months before he was arrested for murder.