Posted on 05/03/2006 10:28:35 AM PDT by Woodstock
LANCASTER - Attorneys for David Ludwig, the Lititz teen accused of killing his 14-year-old girlfriend's parents in November, have won more time to examine more than 1,500 documents and other evidence.
Lancaster County Judge David L. Ashworth last week gave Deputy Public Defender Merrill M. Spahn Jr. until May 15 to file pre-trial motions.
In his extension request, Spahn had said he had yet to receive all of the discovery material despite prosecutors' diligent efforts.
Spahn was not available for comment last night.
Ludwig, 18, is tentatively scheduled for trial in September.
He is charged with two counts of homicide, statutory sexual assault and related firearms charges.
Prosecutors say Ludwig fatally shot Michael and Cathryn Borden on Nov. 11, after they forbade him from continuing his relationship with their daughter, Kara Beth Borden.
According to court papers, the teens told investigators that they had a sexual relationship.
Ludwig is accused of shooting the Bordens with a handgun he had stashed in his waistband, then fleeing with Kara. They were caught the next day after a police chase in Indiana.
At first, investigators believed Kara had been kidnapped. They later learned she went willingly, according to court filings. Prosecutors dropped a kidnapping charge at Ludwig's preliminary hearing Dec. 16.
Ludwig is due in court June 14 for an evidence-suppression hearing.
You don't get much birch beer and pork & sauerkraut on death row; since there's no doubt as to the outcome you might as well have your lawyer file a bunch of motions so you can get your fill in the meantime.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.