Douglas County prosecutors say a murder suspect threatened to kill a witness, but jurors will not be allowed to hear evidence of the alleged crime when the case goes to trial.

Durrell Jones is charged with first degree murder in the 2006 shooting death of Lawrence hip-hop artist Anthony Vital.

The 28-year-old’s body was found in a field west of Lawrence in October 2006.

Assistant District Attorney David Melton told a judge Friday that Jones threatened to kill a witness and his sister, if the witness testified at the preliminary hearing.

Prosecutors were seeking to have that evidence admitted at trial, but Judge Robert Fairchild ruled Friday that evidence of the alleged threat will not be allowed.

Both Jones and his co-defendant, Major Edwards, are scheduled to stand trial in October.