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Charges against ex-boyfriend charged in murder of Pitt student held for court

PITTSBURGH — The case against the man charged with killing Pitt student Alina Sheykhet will go to trial.

A judge held all charges against her ex-boyfriend, Matthew Darby, on Friday, including one count of criminal homicide, for court.

Alina Sheykhet

It's been more than three months since Sheykhet was killed inside her Oakland home, but it was obvious in court today that her memory was as strong as ever.

It came during an emotional preliminary hearing where family and friends faced Darby for the first time.

Photos: Evidence to be used in Matthew Darby case

During the hearing, investigators laid out much of their case against Darby, with witnesses describing an abusive on and off again relationship between Sheykhet and Darby.

Investigators believe he broke into her home early in the morning on October 8th using knives and a hammer to kill her.

A little after 6 a.m. that day, surveillance video from a nearby business caught a man matching Darby's description appearing to drop something into a sewer.

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When investigators searched the sewer, they found two knives and a hammer -- weapons Darby allegedly used to kill Sheykhet.

They're still awaiting forensic tests.

"There's no forensic evidence. There is no testimonial evidence. All we have is a lot of circumstantial evidence which is good and valid, but it provides a maybe,” said Darby’s attorney David Shrager.

The judge ruled there was enough evidence to hold all charges for court, including criminal homicide.

It's the outcome Alina’s family hoped for, and being surrounded by so many of her friends, made a tough day a little easier.

"It's comfort to be surrounded by people willing to share part of the grief and to support a certain person and a cause,” said Sheykhet’s family attorney Bob Del Greco.

TIMELINE PRESENTED

9:20 p.m. on Oct. 7th

Darby is seen on surveillance going up an elevator in Brottier Hall on Duquesne's campus.

He leaves but returns to Brottier Hall several hours later.

That's when surveillance video shows a man matching his description outside Brottier hall getting into an Uber.

Around 4:30 a.m.

Prosecutors said the driver took Darby to the corner of Ward and Semple streets in Oakland -- just feet away from the Cable Place house where his ex-girlfriend Sheykhet lived.

During this period, Prosecutors presented phone records showing Darby called her five times during this time.

After arriving, the driver testified Darby asked him to wait 10 minutes.

He would make this request two more times before the driver said he left.

Just after 6 a.m.: 

A man matching Darby's description is seen on surveillance video from a nearby business leaning over near a sewer.

Investigators searched it soon after, finding a hammer and two knives -- the weapons they believe were used to kill Sheykhet.

Her parents found her body two hours later, just after 8 a.m.

"There's a young lady who lost her life, 20 years of age who had her whole future ahead of her. That is a tragedy. The question is ,who is responsible? That's my job is to help defend my client,” said Darby’s attorney, David Shrager.

Dozens of friends came to show their support for her family and promote Alina's Law, which would allow a judge to force a defendant to wear an electronic monitoring device in a protection from abuse case.

Sheykhet got a PFA against Darby after he broke into her house -- less than three weeks before she was killed.

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