A man accused of killing a 19-year-old Arkansas City Cowley College student will be back in District Court in Winfield Wednesday morning.
The morning session of the hearing will begin at 9:30 a.m. and the afternoon portion will begin at 1 p.m. The hearing may continue on Thursday.
Justin Thurber’s defense team has asked the court to close hearings in the case and seal some court documents. Judge Jim Pringle refused earlier this month to close hearings but said he will rule whether statements Thurber made to police are admissible during the trial. It is set to begin in June.
Thurber, 24, is charged with rape and capital murder in the January 2007 death of 19-year-old Jodi Sanderholm. The Kansas attorney general’s office is assisting Cowley County Attorney Chris Smith with the prosecution. Attorneys with the Kansas Death Penalty Defense Unit are defending Thurber.
