BELLEFONTAINE, Ohio – An Ohio woman accused of suffocating her three sons out of jealousy at the attention her husband gave them is asking a judge to toss her confession, split the case into three trials and remove the death penalty as a possibility.
The Dayton Daily News (http://bit.ly/1qKfFVS ) reports that lawyers for 23-year-old Brittany Pilkington filed six motions April 1. Prosecutors had 20 days to respond.
A judge previously denied removing the death penalty option. The new motion seeks a dismissal based on a January ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court. The defense is questioning the constitutionality of Ohio's capital punishment laws.
Pilkington's trial is scheduled to start in October.
The Bellefontaine (behl-FOWN'-tihn) woman pleaded not guilty to three counts of aggravated murder. Prosecutors say Pilkington confessed to the killings.
___
Information from: Dayton Daily News, http://www.daytondailynews.com
The hottest stories ripped from the headlines, from crime to courts, legal and scandal.
