The man accused of a hate crime killing at an Olathe bar last year may be headed for a possible plea deal.
Adam Purinton, 52, is charged with killing Srinivas Kuchibhotla in Austin’s Bar and Grill last February.
Purinton is also accused of shooting two others: Alok Madasani, a co-worker of Kuchibhotla at Garmin, and Ian Grillot, who chased Purinton after he fled the bar.
According to online court records, a plea hearing has been set for March 6 at 1:30 p.m.
Purinton has already pleaded not guilty, so a new hearing could mean he is changing his plea to guilty.
Lawyers are not talking about the hearing.
"We do not have a comment regarding this case at this time," says Kristi Bergeron, spokeswoman for the Johnson County District Attorney's office. Chief public defender Michael McCulloch also declined to comment.
Purinton is also charged in federal court with a hate crime. Both Kuchibhotla and Madasani were from India, and federal authorities allege Purinton targeted them because of their race, ethnicity or national origin.
The federal charge comes with a possible death sentence, but the U.S. Attorney's Office in Kansas has not said whether it will seek death penalty.
"The U.S. Attorney’s Office is not able to comment at this time on any new developments in the state’s case against Mr. Purinton," spokesman Jim Cross said.
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Sam Zeff is a reporter at KCUR. Follow him on Twitter @SamZeff.
