But Holtzer's days in trial are not over. He is to appear again in this Newaygo County courtroom, possibly in February, on charges that he murdered NMC student Kalee Bruce in February. In instructions from 13th Circuit Judge Thomas Power, jurors were given a choice between finding Holtzer guilty of assault with intent to do great bodily harm or aggravated assault.
Aggravated assault carries a maximum penalty of one year in jail.
Holtzer's lawyers, James Hunt and Larry Willey, called no witnesses in Holtzer's defense in a case that relied heavily on the Grand Traverse County prosecutors' DNA evidence. Hunt and Willey had no comment Wednesday. Three and a half hours into their deliberations, jurors asked to be read the difference between the two charges, indicating that jury may have focused not on Holtzer's guilt or innocence, but on the severity of the beating. Jurors refused to comment Wednesday and were escorted from the courthouse by two bailiffs. After the trial, Schneider agreed that the two charges were extremely similar, but said it was important to consider Holtzer's intent by looking at the circumstances and the extent of injuries.