Man faces hearing in N. Ogden slaying

OGDEN — A judge has scheduled a hearing next month to decide if there's enough evidence to make a North Ogden man stand trial for murder.

During a hearing Tuesday in 2nd District Court, a judge scheduled a Feb. 9 preliminary hearing for Johnny Maurice Bell Jr., 21. He is charged with first-degree felony murder and domestic violence in the presence of a child, a third-degree felony, in the death of 23-year-old Brittany Nichols.

Police said Nichols was stabbed to death after she tried to break up with Bell. Her 3-year-old daughter was in the home at the time of the slaying.

Court records said a judge kept bail set for Bell at $500,000. He remains in the Weber County Jail.

— Ben Winslow