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One of the prime suspects in a possible murder for hire plot of a beloved Florida State Professor was in court Friday morning. As Matt Galka tells us, the suspect’s attorney says the state has no hard evidence and his client should be a free man.

Sigfredo Garcia was led into his bond hearing Friday morning in shackles.  The 34 year old Garcia was indicted on first degree murder charges…accused of carrying out an execution style murder of Florida State University law professor Dan Markel in 2014.

His attorney Jim Lewis says he’s innocent and Garcia pleaded not guilty.

But the state wants Garcia locked up while the investigation continues. Surveillance video released Friday shows Garcia apparently tailing Markel before the murder.

“There’s a real danger to the community if Mr. Garcia is released,” said prosecutor Georgia Cappleman.

Court documents link Garcia and another man, Luis Rivera, to the family of the professor’s ex-wife in a murder for hire plot. More charges are expected in the case, but in the meantime, Garcia’s attorney says he should be a free man.

“All they’ve got are theories. No facts, no eyewitnesses, no physical evidence, no confessions, no statements,” said attorney Jim Lewis.

The state is seeking the death penalty.

“As far as I know there’s no DNA at the crime scene, I don’t have a witness who will say I saw Mr. Garcia who killed Mr. Markell, so he’s right to that extent, but there’s a mountain of other evidence,” said Capplem

The bond hearing was pushed back possibly to as early as next week.