Exactly one year after a Penn State student was beaten to death in a State College residence, activity in the case of the accused murderer has suddenly increased as the trial date approaches.

Andrew A. Rogers, 28, is charged with the murder of Youngcheol Park, 24, who was found in Rogers' residence, 224 Nimitz Ave., after Rogers turned himself into authorities in Uniontown. Police said Rogers placed a garbage bag over Park's head and beat him to death with a bottle and baseball bat on Feb. 23, 2006.

In his statements to police, Rogers has maintained that a third man, known only as "Sweet," instigated the fight, causing Rogers to retaliate in self-defense. Police said they have not been able to identify a third actor.

Police have said drugs may have played a role in the incident.

Rogers' trial, originally scheduled for February, will now take place April 9. Jury selection for the trial is set for April 3.

Public defender David Crowley, Rogers' defense attorney, said in the six weeks before trial, movement on the case will begin to pick up as both sides make sure they have looked into all the evidence available before the trial begins.

On Tuesday, the commonwealth unsealed affidavits of probable cause for seizing the phone records of Park, Rogers and a known third man who Crowley said text-messaged Park that day, pressuring him for money. Crowley said the third man is not "Sweet."

According to Crowley, some of the text messages Park received on his cell phone from the third man included questions about if the "count" was right. Messages from Park to other individuals also appear to be drug-related, Crowley said.

Crowley said the affidavit was the first time the defense learned that police were also looking for Park's phone records and said he will be filing a motion to obtain the records. He said the affidavit states that numbers stored on Park's cell phone were those of known drug dealers.

Additionally, the defense has requested an early report by lead investigator State College Detective Michael McDannel that they believe contains a detailed description of comments made by Rogers to police after turning himself in. Crowley said he believes the material used to create the report is contained within the 200 pages of handwritten notes turned over to the defense in November, but he is still looking for the official document.

McDannel could not be reached for comment yesterday.

Also on Tuesday, a long-awaited crime lab report was delivered to the defense, which states three footprints found at the scene of the murder could not be linked to either Park or Rogers. Crowley called the results of the report the biggest development in the case so far and said it was further support for the presence of a third person at the scene.

Centre County District Attorney Michael Madeira said Tuesday he would not discuss the case in the press for ethical reasons, but said he believes there are other options for explaining the results.

In the past, Madeira has made public statements denying the existence of Sweet, causing the defense to argue at a July 31 pretrial hearing that Madeira could have tainted possible jurors by publicly stating that he does not believe "Sweet" is a real person.

"I think it becomes almost impossible for Mr. Madeira to deny that, and I'm wondering how he's going to try to do that," Crowley said. "I guess we're asking him to put up or shut up; either tell us who was standing there in the middle of the melee or admit that there was a third person there."

Crowley said one of the bloody prints was located underneath Park's body, which is an indication that it was made during the incident.

Last March, a memorial service was held for Park at Eisenhower Chapel. Park's parents could not attain visas to leave South Korea for the service, but sent a letter to be read there.

"You are our hearts' treasure. Your life is more precious than my own. How you must have suffered in your pain," Park's father wrote in the letter.

"You must know that farewell has a meaning of reunion. We will meet again in that place of peace. Take good care my beloved son, our pride and joy," the letter concluded.