A judge on Monday denied a defense motion to suppress search warrants in the trial of a Lovingston man charged in connection with the disappearance of Nelson County teenager Alexis Murphy.
Randy Allen Taylor, 48, is charged with first-degree murder, murder during commission of an abduction and abduction with intent to defile. Murphy, 17, was last seen Aug. 3 at a Lovingston gas station.
Michael Hallahan, Taylor's attorney, argued in a motion filed last week that search warrants issued on Aug. 6, Aug. 10 and Aug. 11 were "obtained without any valid Constitutional basis, thereby depriving the defendant of his right of due process" and further rights.
Search warrants in the case have remained sealed and investigators have been tight-lipped about where they've searched. Among other places, authorities have been spotted by Taylor's house on U.S. 29 in Lovingston during the course of the investigation.
Hallahan's motion also referenced "numerous statements from the defendant" in reference to the case but did not elaborate on their nature. It claimed statements and evidence were "illegally obtained."
Nelson County Commonwealth's Attorney Anthony Martin responded in a motion filed Monday in Nelson Circuit Court that the defense has a burden of proof that has not been met. His motion argues officers acted "in good faith reliance on the validity of the search warrants."
Martin asked the judge to overrule the defense motion and asked that a hearing Monday on the request be closed to the public and media to ensure a fair trial.
Judge J. Michael Gamble closed the hearing, citing case law that applies to certain judicial proceedings.
In an email to The Nelson County Times after the hearing, Martin said Gamble denied the defense motion.
Martin declined to provide further details, citing a gag order in place that prevents parties in the case from divulging information.
Taylor's jury trial is scheduled for May 1.
http://www.timesdispatch.com/news/la...7a43b2370.html
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