OMAHA, Neb. -- A Nebraska man accused of pushing his mother off a balcony to her death in December 2004 cannot be tried on manslaughter charges, prosecutors said.

Stephen Pullens was arrested earlier this year in California and brought back to Omaha to face trial.

Prosecutors initially charged Pullens with manslaughter, but now said the statute of limitations for that crime has expired. The County Attorney filed a second degree murder charge against Pullens instead.

Police said Pullens pushed Matsolonia Myers, 71, off the fourth-story balcony ledge during a visit to her condominium. Investigators said from the beginning that Myers’ fall showed no signs of being accidental.