Ex-student accused of smearing body fluids on roommate's belongings to face judge

The case of a white former University of Hartford student accused of smearing body fluids on her black roommate's belongings returns to court this week.
A pretrial conference is scheduled Tuesday in Hartford Superior Court in the case of Brianna Brochu, 18, of Harwinton.
Brochu pleaded not guilty to misdemeanor criminal mischief and breach of peace charges.
According to police, Brochu wrote on Instagram back in October about rubbing used tampons on her roommate's backpack and putting her roommate's toothbrush "where the sun doesn't shine."
Her roommate says she developed throat pain.
Representatives of the state NAACP and other civil rights advocates have called on prosecutors to charge Brochu with a hate crime.
Her lawyer says the roommates had a falling out and Brochu's actions were not racially motivated.
AP wire services helped contribute to this report.