Preliminary Trial Date Set for Joseph Kaufman

A preliminary hearing date has been set in Redwood City Felony Court for the man accused in the beating death of Belmont resident Barney Hanepen outside the Lariat Tavern in May.

The defendant, Joseph Patrick Kaufman of San Carlos, appeared before Commissioner Kathleen McKenna in San Mateo Superior Court on Tuesday. The case was set on October 9, 2013 9:00 for the preliminary hearing. Jeffrey R. Finigan is the deputy district attorney on the case.

The San Mateo County District Attorney's Office filed murder charges against Kaufman, 23, on May 3.

Barney Hanepen, 48, was found unconscious in the 800 block of Broadway in Belmont in the early morning hours of April 29. He died from his injuries on May 2.

According to the DA’s, Kaufman, and the victim were drinking separately at the Lariat Tavern into the early hours of Monday April 29, and after closing at 2:15 a.m., the two got into an argument outside the bar over the victim’s female friend. Once outside the bar, the argument turned violent with Kaufman punching the victim in the face, pushing him to the ground and repeatedly kicking him in the head and torso until the victim was bloody and unconscious.

Hanepen died at Stanford Hospital on May 2.

The defendant remains in custody on no bail status. The defense attorney is Jeff Jackson.