Harris trial to stay in Sioux City
By Molly Montag | Posted: Friday, October 03, 2008
SIOUX CITY -- Lawrence Douglas Harris Sr. will stand trial for the deaths of his stepdaughters in Sioux City, a judge has decided.
Woodbury County District Court Judge James D. Scott on Wednesday denied a motion to move the trial out of the county, ruling that media coverage of the case has been accurate.
The Woodbury County Public Defender's Office, which is representing Harris, asked the court in February to grant a change of venue because of prejudicial media coverage.
And at a hearing Monday, defense attorneys offered results of a survey as proof that potential Woodbury County jurors were more likely than those in Pottawattamie County to know about the case and to think Harris was guilty.
According to the ruling, filed Wednesday afternoon, Scott determined the media coverage has been accurate and did not include commentary on whether Harris is guilty.
Although the judge acknowledged the difference in negative opinions in the survey results, he noted that more Woodbury County respondents said they could set aside their own opinion.
Defense attorneys can ask for a change of venue at a later date, the judge wrote, if prejudice is found while attorneys are questioning potential jurors.
Harris, 26, has pleaded not guilty to two counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of sisters Kendra Suing, 10, and Alysha Suing, 8. Firefighters found the girls, who had been stabbed and strangled, on Jan. 6 in their Nebraska Street home.
Police said Harris, whose attorneys say they plan to use an insanity defense, told them the girls died while he was casting a spell that "had gone bad."
According to court documents, police found a spell notebook that belonged to Harris, as well as satanic items, writings and drawings in the family's home.
Harris' trial is scheduled for Dec. 2.
Woodbury County District Court Judge James D. Scott on Wednesday denied a motion to move the trial out of the county, ruling that media coverage of the case has been accurate.
The Woodbury County Public Defender's Office, which is representing Harris, asked the court in February to grant a change of venue because of prejudicial media coverage.
And at a hearing Monday, defense attorneys offered results of a survey as proof that potential Woodbury County jurors were more likely than those in Pottawattamie County to know about the case and to think Harris was guilty.
According to the ruling, filed Wednesday afternoon, Scott determined the media coverage has been accurate and did not include commentary on whether Harris is guilty.
Although the judge acknowledged the difference in negative opinions in the survey results, he noted that more Woodbury County respondents said they could set aside their own opinion.
Defense attorneys can ask for a change of venue at a later date, the judge wrote, if prejudice is found while attorneys are questioning potential jurors.
Harris, 26, has pleaded not guilty to two counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of sisters Kendra Suing, 10, and Alysha Suing, 8. Firefighters found the girls, who had been stabbed and strangled, on Jan. 6 in their Nebraska Street home.
Police said Harris, whose attorneys say they plan to use an insanity defense, told them the girls died while he was casting a spell that "had gone bad."
According to court documents, police found a spell notebook that belonged to Harris, as well as satanic items, writings and drawings in the family's home.
Harris' trial is scheduled for Dec. 2.
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