Major Setback to Defendant in Hot Car Death

MARIETTA, GA -- In what his attorneys are calling a major setback, a Cobb County judge this week ruled that evidence collected by police in their case against Justin Ross Harris is admissible in court.

Harris is accused of leaving his 22-month-old son in a hot car to die. His attorneys argued that some evidence against their client was improperly collected by police.

Harris has been held without bond since June 2014. His trial is set to begin in April.

In a case that has received national media attention, Harris was indicted by a grand jury on Sep. 4, 2014, on eight counts relating to the June 18, 2014, death of his son Cooper, who investigators say was left alone in a hot car for seven hours while his father was at work.

Attorneys for Harris have filed several pre-trial motions, some of which will be heard in court at the start of next week. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports that Harris’ defense team wants to suppress evidence of a conversation Harris had with his wife while in Cobb police custody. Additionally, the defense team wants to sever charges Harris faces for allegedly sexting an underage girl from the main murder trial.

Harris’ defense team is also asking Judge Mary Staley to prevent the media from access to the hearing, arguing that a media presence would prevent Harris from receiving a fair trial. In February, Staley refused a motion asking to completely bar the media from the courtroom, saying the motion was too broad.

Harris pleaded not guilty to all eight counts against him in October.

Cobb County District Attorney Vic Reynolds announced in September that the state would not seek the death penalty against Harris if he is convicted.