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On March 5, the defense team of attorneys Charles H. and Charles M. Rittgers filed a motion to exclude Richardson’s comments at the Carlisle Police Station outside the presence of officers.
After a 60-minute meeting in chambers with attorneys on Wednesday, Judge Donald Oda II said the defense intends to withdraw its motion to suppress the statements.
Richardson was interviewed by Carlisle police, who informed her the conversation was being recorded, the motion states. Then the officers took a break.
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“While Brooke was being interviewed law enforcement took a break, removed the recording device and stepped outside and allowed her parents to enter the room and speak to her. During this conversation with her parents, which unbeknownst to any of them was still being recorded by law enforcement, Brooke made statements. It is this conversation with her parents that counsel wishes to address as she had reasonable expectation of privacy in that room,” the Rittgers team said in the motion.
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The defense’s motion does not address what Richardson said to her parents.
Richardson was in a conference room at the courthouse, but did not enter the courtroom on Wednesday.
Trial is scheduled to begin on April 16. A final pre-trial meeting is scheduled for April 9.
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