A year later, no trial date has been set for the Dallas DWI suspect accused of killing a pedestrian

DALLAS – According to Dallas police, a little over a year ago, a woman was driving while drunk when she struck and killed a man who was crossing the street.

Kyli Phillips is accused of murder, but a trial date has not yet been set.

Meanwhile, according to police, she violated probation on a previous drunken driving case, served a prison sentence for it, and was still released from prison to await trial in that case.

A year ago, 63-year-old Howard Graham, nicknamed Smiley, was struck and killed by a suspected drunk driver while crossing Abrams Road in northeast Dallas.

On Monday, fresh flowers and balloons were placed at his memorial.

“The anniversary comes and you feel like she's free. She gets to spend Labor Day with her family. He doesn't,” said Kim Polen, Graham's girlfriend.

Phillips is charged with murder in connection with the accident and is currently free on bail.

Investigators say that on August 25, 2023, Phillips was speeding in her white Camaro and struck Graham.

Toxicology results showed that Phillips' blood alcohol concentration that evening was almost three times the legal limit.

At the time of Graham's death, Phillips was on probation and was required to have an ignition interlock device installed in her vehicle, which she failed to do.

Phillips has previous drunken driving convictions, being convicted of drunken driving in Van Zandt County in 2018 and in Southlake in 2022.

Tarrant County court documents show Phillips' probation was revoked in the Southlake case. She took a plea deal in March 2024 and spent 30 days in the Tarrant County Jail for that case.

Meanwhile, the Phillips murder case in Dallas County is making slow progress.

In June 2024, a grand jury indicted Phillips. She remains free on bail and with an ankle monitor.

According to a bail order issued last week, “she is not allowed to drive.”

Sharon Kristensen says she still hopes there will be a trial for her friend's death.

“And tell us how we feel about him,” she said. “Because he was my friend and I loved him.”

Poland also plans to give her friend a voice.

“He was a human being who deserved to live his life,” she said, “and not to be killed by a person who believes there is nothing wrong with driving drunk.”

FOX 4 reached out to Phillips' defense attorney, but we have not received a response.

Phillips is due back in court on September 9. A trial date has not yet been set.