TROY – The 2017 Lansingburgh quadruple homicide case has been certified ready for trial and scheduled for March 9, according to Rensselaer County Court officials.

Defendant James White, 40, appeared in court Monday before Judge Debra Young, who listened to Chief Assistant District Attorney Matthew Hauf and defense attorney Kurt Haas regarding whether case-related evidence and documents had been turned over.

White of Schenectady is accused of fatally stabbing Brandi Mells, 22; Shanta Myers, 36; and Myers' two children: Jeremiah Myers, 11, and Shanise Myers, 5, in their basement apartment in Troy's Lasningburgh neighborhood on Dec. 21, 2017. The bodies were discovered bound to chairs in the apartment on Dec. 26, 2017. City police have described the crime scene as one of the most horrific they've ever encountered.

White is charged with nine counts of first-degree murder and four counts of second-degree murder. White also was indicted for one count of burglary, one count of robbery and two counts of criminal possession of stolen property. The top murder count carries a maximum sentence of life in prison without possibility of parole.

Young ruled that the prosecution must turn over a witness list to the defense within the next 15 days. Hauf told the judge that the names of the witnesses were indicated in the files previously turned over to the defense. Hauf said the state’s new discovery laws didn’t specify that the prosecution had to provide a separate list. Haas had maintained he should have been provided a list. Hauf said he had received no discovery materials from the defense.

A key witness in the prosecution’s case is anticipated to be co-defendant Justin Mann, 26, of Schenectady, who pleaded guilty in April 2018 to four counts of second-degree murder in a plea deal. Mann agreed to testify against White in exchange for a sentence of 25 years to life, which will give him the opportunity to apply for parole.

Mann has said in court that White killed the four victims while he was present.