A preliminary hearing is set for May 13 for a 20-year-old Bensalem man suspected in the slaying of former Bucks student Jacob Simmers.

Joseph Romano faces seven charges, including criminal homicide, two counts of aggravated assault, and use/possession of drug paraphernalia.

According to the Bensalem Police Department, on March 30 at approximately 2:30 a.m., police responded to a report of a stabbing at Romano’s home on the 1100 block of Kasmir Avenue in Bensalem Township.

Police arrived to find Simmers dead from an apparent stab wound to the upper body.  Romano, who was at the residence, was arrested without incident.

Romano was arraigned by Magisterial Judge Maggie Snow and sent to the Bucks County Correctional Facility without bail.

According to mutual friends of Romano and Simmers, the two were friends and they were all at the same party earlier that night.

Kellie McCarthy, 18, of Bensalem, and a mutual friend said, “I was shocked to learn Joe could do something like that.”

Casey Wright, 19, of Bensalem, and another mutual friend described Romano as a good guy.  “He was not of the right mind that night.  He is not a monster and we don’t resent him at all.”

When asked if they could ever forgive Romano, McCarthy said, “The question of forgiveness hasn’t crossed our minds because we almost feel like it wasn’t Joe, he wasn’t himself.”

“Forgiveness was something Jake stood for,” said McCarthy.

Romano is scheduled to appear before Magisterial Judge Leonard J. Brown for his preliminary hearing at 9 a.m. on May 13.