- Teacher, 32, collapses in front of kindergarten class, dies at hospital
- Mother drops children off at fire station saying she doesn't want them
- Woman accused of leaving children at fire station claims allegations are 'made up'
- Firefighter uses 'Happy Feet' to calm child after crash
- Woman told $20,000 'winning' lottery ticket worthless, sold in error
Justin Ross Harris, accused of intentionally leaving his 22-month-old son inside a hot SUV to die, on Monday will make his first public appearance in more than a year.
A series of pre-trial hearings are scheduled to begin Monday, including a move by the defense to suppress evidence of a conversation between Harris and his wife soon after they learned he was being charged with the death of their son, Cooper.
In it, Leanna Harris, according to Cobb police Detective Phil Stoddard, asked her husband, "Did you say too much?" Leanna Harris' attorney, Lawrence Zimmerman, said the remark was taken out of context.
Harris’ attorney has moved to close the pre-trial hearing to the media, arguing their presence could jeopardize his right to a fair trial.
Superior Court Judge Mary Staley refused a motion by the prosecution last winter to limit public access to documents and is unlikely to grant the defense's request.
Defense lawyers have also moved to sever charges stemming from Harris' alleged sexting with a girl younger than 18. arguing they are unrelated to the murder counts he faces and should be tried separately.
Ross Harris was indicted last September on charges including malice murder, felony murder and cruelty to children. Prosecutors have portrayed him as a porn-obsessed, would-be playboy seeking a "child-free lifestyle." They say he studied how long it would take his son to die inside a hot car.
Harris pleaded not guilty and has been held without bond ever since.
Last month, Harris was declared indigent, according to court documents. Taxpayers are now paying for his attorney, Maddox Kilgore, and two associates..
Attorney Esther Panitch, who is is not involved in the case. said she expects the defense to focus on inconsistencies in the prosecution's case. An investigation by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution published last year revealed that police appeared to overstate some of the evidence introduced during the probable cause hearing.
“They’re going to hammer away at the state’s credibility,” she said. “That’s going to be central to their case.”
A trial date has yet to be scheduled.
“We turned over a good deal of discovery evidence, ” said Cobb District Attorney Vic Reynolds. “Out of fairness, the defense needed a lot of time to digest it.”
About the Author
