A Newhall man who allegedly confessed to murdering his childhood friend is returning to court later this month.

David Aldana, 21, is set to appear for another pretrial hearing later this month stemming from a February 2016 confession to murdering his childhood friend.

Aldana is scheduled to continue his pretrial phase Tuesday, May 16, where he is being charged with one count of willful, deliberate, and premeditated murder, according to Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office officials.

Related: Man Confesses To Murder, Dumping Body In Canyon Country; Victim Identified

Aldana was arrested February 24, 2016, after he walked into the U.S. Port of Entry Customs Border Protection Office in San Ysidro and claimed that he had killed Maximiliano Bernal, 22, of Newhall, in the Canyon Country area, said Lt. Eddie Hernandez of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Homicide Bureau.

“Homicide detectives were dispatched to the office where (Aldana) was detained so they could interview the suspect,” said Hernandez. “During the interview, he agreed to show to detectives where he discarded the victim’s remains.”

Investigators found Bernal’s body near a gravel and dirt turnout on Sand Canyon Road at mile marker 7.98 on the morning of February 25, Hernandez said.

“At this point, we don’t have a motive for the murder,” said Hernandez in February of 2016. “The suspect described the victim as a friend.”

Bernal was pronounced dead at 10:40 a.m. February 25, 2016, and sustained at least one gunshot wound to his upper torso, said Capt. John Kades with the Los Angeles County Coroner’s Office.