GREENFIELD — The pre-trial conference for defendant Taaniel Herberger-Brown, the Greenfield man charged with murdering 35-year-old Christopher Hairston of Pittsfield, was continued to Oct. 1 as new details emerged in the case, according to First Assistant Northwestern District Attorney Steven Gagne.

Herberger-Brown, 42, was arrested on a murder charge at Albany International Airport on April 23 after reports of a foul odor brought police to his former apartment at 92 Chapman St. earlier that day. Upon arrival, Greenfield Police Officer Brent Griffin discovered a decomposing body, later identified as Hairston.

Herberger-Brown appeared before Judge William Mazanec III Wednesday morning in Greenfield District Court. Addressing Mazanec, Gagne requested a continuance for the pre-trial conference, citing additional discovery and a grand jury conference slated for Sept. 6 through Sept. 27 as reasons.

“In the meantime, I provided quite a bit of discovery for [defense] attorney [David] Horgan, with much more to come,” Gagne said. “Given the complexity of degrees and the amount of discovery, we would request a continuance through Oct. 1, by which time I expect to be able to report that the case has hopefully been indicted.”

In response to Gagne’s request, Herberger-Brown’s attorney David Horgan objected to the continuance, noting that although he was available for the Oct. 1 date, he did not believe the commonwealth had met “due cause” to prosecute his client.

“I don’t think due cause has been met and it’s been certainly over 30 days at this point. I would just note that if he’s not indicted by the next date, I believe Mr. Herberger Brown is going to be asking for a bail hearing,” Horgan said.

The judge ultimately granted Gagne’s request to continue the hearing.

While being investigated by Greenfield Police and Massachusetts State Police, Herberger-Brown allegedly told officers that a man, who he believed to be on drugs, had broken into his apartment and engaged in a physical altercation with him. Toward the end of the altercation, Herberger-Brown told police that the victim’s “heart stopped,” according to police reports.

According to a report written by State Trooper Blakely Pottinger, initially told officers that he was “in and out of hospitals” and “had not been at the apartment for several months.” The report also states Herberger-Brown told police he went to Albany International Airport with plans to visit his mother outside of the country.

“Herberger-Brown provided several different locations he was traveling to, including Vancouver, Germany, Prince Edward Island and New Finland,” the report states.

Anthony Cammalleri can be reached at acammalleri@recorder.com or 413-930-4429.