YOUNGSTOWN — Danyo Sellers, who was 16 when he was accused of firing the gunshots that killed 15-year-old Amya Monserrat outside of a Southern Boulevard tavern, has been denied a lower bond again after his trial was postponed again to July.

Sellers, who turned 18 in November, was indicted on charges of murder, felonious assault and involuntary manslaughter, each with gun specifications, and is being held in the Mahoning County jail in lieu of a $500,000 bond.

Amya and others were outside of the tavern for a birthday party for a 16-year-old when she was killed, police said.

Defense attorney Aaron Meikle asked starting last August for Mahoning County Common Pleas Court Judge Anthony D’Apolio to reduce Sellers’ bond to $100,000 on the grounds that “the state’s chief witness against (Sellers) has recanted.” But Sellers and his family also have asked Meikle to ensure that Sellers “was being heard” the various times that his trial has been pushed back, Meikle said Wednesday.

Meikle said he credits D’Apolito for saying he “would always listen” to such a request, “And you’ve listened every time,” Meikle said. He added that the arguments made for reducing Sellers’ bond have not changed since the initial request.

But the judge asked Meikle to explain the reference to the key witness, co-defendant Saun Peterson, 22, having recanted his testimony. Meikle said jail calls involving Peterson will be used at trial that will be favorable to Sellers.

“The reliability of the state’s witness is definitely in question,” Meikle said.

Meikle noted that Sellers was set for trial May 19, but the case was recently pushed back to July 14. He said that is another reason the bond reduction has been requested again. “It’s easier to prepare for trial when you are able to go to your attorney’s office than it is to go to the jailhouse,” Meikle said.

Court records show that a lower bond has been requested at least four times for Sellers.

Mahoning County Assistant Prosecutor John Juhasz responded at the hearing by saying nothing has changed since the defense filed the initial request for bond reduction. Juhasz noted that the prosecution has “a statement of the defendant. There’s a statement of Saun Peterson, who was in the car. So I don’t know that the defense has really shown anything to justify a change on that basis.”

Juhasz said, “The real truth of what he has to say is going to be determined by the jury on the witness stand.”

D’Apolito said Ohio law lists various factors judges must consider when setting bail, including “risk of flight, the seriousness of the charges, threat to public safety and the strength of the state’s case. And of course the presumption of innocence, which has always been afforded to the defendant.”

He said of Sellers’ indictment, “These are the most serious charges that … a defendant can be charged with.” The trial is set in a couple of months, and “I don’t see anything that has changed from my first setting of bail,” D’Apolito said. A couple of scheduling conflicts arose, but the judge said he expects the trial to go forward July 14.

Peterson, now 22, and Youngstown Police detective Michael Cox testified at Sellers’ probable cause hearing in Mahoning County Juvenile Court. Peterson said he was the driver of the dark blue Mercedes Benz that drove around the tavern several times that night and that Sellers was in the front passenger seat.

Peterson later pleaded guilty in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court to involuntary manslaughter and other charges in the killing. Prosecutors are recommending that Peterson get 10 to 12.5 years in prison when he is sentenced later.