KALAMAZOO, MI -- The driver of a pickup truck that struck 9 bicyclists in Cooper Township in June 2016 will stand trial for second-degree murder.

Kalamazoo County Circuit Court Judge Paul J. Bridenstine has denied a motion from Charles Pickett Jr.'s defense attorneys, Alan Koenig and Keith Turpel.

The attorneys had argued that the prosecution failed to provide probable cause to bind Pickett over to circuit court on the second-degree murder charges, and that the district court abused its discretion when it did so following a preliminary examination on the evidence.

Pickett is accused of driving drugged and plowing into a group of bicyclists, killing five, on June 7, 2016. He faces five counts of operating while intoxicated causing death, five counts of second-degree murder and four counts of operating while intoxicated causing serious injury.

He could face up to life in prison if convicted of second-degree murder.

In a written opinion filed March 29, Bridenstine denied Koenig's motion to quash Pickett's bindover to circuit court on the second-degree murder charges. He also denied a motion from Pickett's attorneys to suppress Pickett's statements to police at Borgess Medical Center following the crash. Koenig alleged Pickett was questioned by Kalamazoo County Sheriff's detectives after twice invoking his constitutional right to have a lawyer present.

Det. Sgt. Richard Mattison of the Kalamazoo County Sheriff's Office, said at a motion hearing March 16 that Pickett twice asked for a lawyer when Mattison and another detective went to interview him June 8 at Borgess. Mattison said he stopped the interview. Then Det. Sgt. Donald McGehee asked Pickett if he knew why he was in the hospital and Pickett indicated he was in a wreck and was told somebody died. Mattison testified McGehee told Pickett he killed five people.

"Mr. Pickett seemed to get really wide-eyed and stared at Det. McGehee and his mouth fell open," Mattison said, noting Pickett seemed shocked.

"Then he asked, 'What did I do, hit a family or something?'"

Mattison said he couldn't discuss it with Pickett because Pickett had asked for an attorney.

"He made some comments about it's already happened, it can't be changed, I might as well talk to you," Mattison testified Thursday. He said he asked Pickett twice whether he wanted to go forward with an interview, to which Pickett responded he did. Mattison then questioned Pickett.

Koenig argued the interview with Pickett at the hospital violated his client's constitutional rights, and at minimum, the detective should have read Pickett his Miranda rights a second time.

Bridenstine denied Koenig's motion, saying Pickett didn't appear to misunderstand what was happening or complain about any physical or mental condition.

"It is the position of this court that after initially invoking his right to an attorney before police questioning there is a preponderance of evidence that the defendant voluntarily, knowingly and intelligently waived that right," Bridenstine said in a written opinion. "The court finds that defendant's decision was not triggered by any express or implied pressure from the government to do so."

A trial is scheduled next month, with jury selection to start April 24 and the trial to start April 25. However, Koenig on March 15 filed a notice of intention to use the insanity defense and Pickett was ordered to undergo an evaluation for criminal responsibility at the state's Center for Forensic Psychiatry in Ypsilanti. That evaluation could cause the trial to be postponed.

Koenig could not immediately be reached for comment.