JONESVILLE — A Jonesville man charged with stabbing his ex-girlfriend in the head and neck repeatedly on Dec. 23, 2023, is tentatively scheduled for a criminal pretrial conference in the 1st Judicial Circuit Court at 1 p.m. July 8.

Dustin Thomas Collins, 20, was bound over to the circuit court on charges of assault with intent to murder following a preliminary examination hearing earlier this year in the 2B District Court.

Preliminary hearings had been adjourned to allow additional time for evidence discovery.

Collins is charged with stabbing his ex-girlfriend, the mother of his child, over a dozen times in the face and head with a pocket knife.

The incident occurred around 6:30 p.m. Dec. 23, 2023, when Collins allegedly stabbed the 19-year-old female during a domestic dispute at Heritage Lane Apartments in Jonesville, according to witnesses on the scene.

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During an interview with the Michigan State Police following his arrest, Collins told police he changed his mind on wanting to kill her after he had started stabbing her and that he called 911 himself to report the crime, according to Hillsdale County Prosecutor Neal Brady.

Reportedly, the couple had a volatile relationship and had recently parted ways, neighbors said.

Medical first responders with the Hillsdale City Fire Department and paramedics with Reading Emergency Unit responded to the incident and the female was transported to Hillsdale Hospital; she has since been released.

— Contact Reporter Corey Murray at cmurray@hillsdale.net or follow him on X, formerly Twitter: @cmurrayHDN.

This article originally appeared on Hillsdale Daily News: Suspect accused of stabbing ex-girlfriend in Jonesville set for trial