The May-23 hearing to throw out Brett M. Hooghkirk’s videotaped confession to the 1988 killing of Lisa Garretson was continued until July 3.

Hooghkirk, 18, is charged with three counts of first degree murder, aggravated criminal sexual assault, aggravated arson and concealing a homicide in Garretson’s Aug. 21, 1988 death.

The police found Garretson in her DeKalb apartment strangled and raped and her body set on fire to conceal the murder.

The May 23 hearing was continued because the defense and the prosecution could not agree on which portions of Hooghkirk’s videotaped confession would be used as evidence.

Bill Brady, Hooghkirk’s attorney, wanted to call Coghlan as a material witness in the case. “The defense requested me to be called as a witness to testify about a conversation I had with police officers during the Jan. 22 interview with Brett Hooghkirk,” DeKalb County State’s Attorney Mike Coghlan said.

Circuit Court Judge John L. Nickels ruled that Coghlan could not be called by the defense as a witness.

Coghlan said it is routine for a state’s attorney to be present while a statement is being taken from a suspect in an important case.

“After he (Hooghkirk) began making incriminating statements the police called me,” Coghlan said.

“The police already testified to a conversation we had prior to detective William Thompson (one detective who worked on the case) on reviewing the case that afternoon (Jan. 22),” he said.

Evidence introduced during a May 14 preliminary hearing stated that Hooghkirk called his mother on Jan. 22 and said “Looks like I’m going to jail for the murder … Because I had a lot to do with it.”

Brady refused to comment on the case.

Coghlan said Nickels could decide on July 3 to keep or suppress Hooghkirk’s confession or to continue the hearing.