Two days of motion hearings wrapped up yesterday in the Barry Morphew murder case.
Witnesses will be sequestered in the Barry Morphew murder trial. Morphew is accused of killing his wife Suzanne. Suzanne Morphew disappeared on Mother’s Day 2020. Her body has not yet been found.
Judge Ramsey Lama granted the defense’s sequester request. Now witnesses won’t be allowed to observe trial proceedings or talk to anyone about the case when the trial begins in May.
In other new developments in the case, Barry Morphew’s two daughters addressed the court yesterday for the first time.
Mallory Morphew told the court, “It would be really such a blessing for our dad to be able to be with us. Because of our work schedule and driving over the pass in the winter.”
The girls live in Gunnison, and per the terms of their father’s bond, he’s had to stay within the bounds of Chaffee County. Judge Lama agreed to that request, modifying the bond to allow Morphew to travel to Gunnison—during daylight hours only.
Another development during yesterday’s hearing focused on District Attorney Linda Stanley.
Judge Lama ruled that the 11th Judicial Attorney’s Office violated the pre-trial publicity order by appearing on podcasts, YouTube, and making statements to the media. However, no sanctions were made.
And, Morphew’s defense does not want the trial to be held in Chaffee County and has filed a motion for a change of venue. The prosecution believes the murder case should be held in Chaffee County, where the alleged crime was committed.
The judge will likely make a ruling on the change of venue motion at the next hearing scheduled for February 1st.
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