Bond was lowered Tuesday to $50,000 cash or corporate surety from $125,000 cash or corporate surety for Jesse Reed Azure, 24, of Belcourt, who is accused of stabbing a relative multiple times on Jan. 29, terrorizing the woman’s boyfriend, and stealing her vehicle.

Judge Doug Mattson noted that there appeared to be some weaknesses in the state’s presentation of its case during a probable cause hearing last week for Azure.

The investigating officer, who had been subpoenaed, was in Minnesota during the hearing the hearing and the state’s attorney’s office scrambled to find two other officers to testify. One officer testified that a knife had been found in the bedroom at the southwest Minot residence but the knife was not sent to the state crime lab for analysis. Two witnesses have refused to cooperate with police.

A prosecutor said the presentation made at the probable cause hearing will not be the one that is made to a jury at trial and said bond should remain at $125,000 on the very serious attempted murder charge.

Mattson agreed to lower bond, but said he would set bond conditions such as GPS monitoring for Azure if he is released on bond. Azure plans to live with a relative in Rolla and seek work if he is released.

A pre-trial conference in the case is set for Aug. 28.