Attorneys for Jesse Matthew, who is accused of capital murder in the death of UVA student Hannah Graham, asked in court October 7 for a separate judge to hear their request for experts without the prosecution’s presence. Even naming the expert or the broad area of expertise in open court would “compromise” Matthew’s trial strategy, said defense attorney Doug Ramseur.
Commonwealth’s Attorney Denise Lunsford opposed the motion and said there needed to be more information on why the defense needed confidentiality. “I don’t get to know what the expert says until Mr. Ramseur reveals it in court,” she said.
Ramseur made a reference to convicted girlfriend-killer George Huguely when he said, “If this were a former UVA lacrosse player, we wouldn’t be in this position to have to ask the court. It’s only because Mr. Matthew is poor and indigent, it’s only because you’re poor that we have to disclose information.”
Judge Cheryl Higgins was unswayed and denied the defense motion.
Lunsford also asked the court to order that any motions for a change of venue be filed before March 2. Higgins agreed, and said if that happened, hotels would have to be arranged for everyone involved for the three-week trial now scheduled for July 5, 2016. “I don’t want to leave it to the last minute,” said the judge.
And given that the defense has subpoenaed 11 media organizations, including C-VILLE Weekly, and asked for news reports and documents related to coverage of Graham, whose disappearance September 13, 2014, was a national news story, suggests a motion for change of venue could be forthcoming.
Matthew was sentenced to three life sentences October 2 for the 2005 brutal assault of a woman in Fairfax. He’s also charged in the murder of Virginia Tech student Morgan Harrington.