intends to 'fully defend' himself against murder charge in Cayler Ellingson's death: lawyer 

Shannon Brandt intends to "fully defend" himself against the murder charge he is facing in relation to the death of Cayler Ellingson

Brandt, 41, was arrested after police say he used his SUV to fatally hit Cayler Ellingson, 18, during the early morning hours of Sept. 18 after a street dance at a local bar in McHenry, North Dakota.

Brandt made his initial court appearance on Thursday.

After appearing in court, Mark Friese, Brandt's attorney, told Fox News Digital that Brandt is intending to "fully defend" himself from the allegations.

"We have requested discovery and background information from the prosecutor. That process was set back a little bit due to the dismissal of the initial charges," Friese said. "Once we receive and review discovery, I may be able to tell you more. For now, I can tell you it is Mr. Brandt’s intention to fully defend against the allegations pending in the open case file.