Defense attorneys are focusing on their client’s mental condition and evidence they say should be thrown out as they defend Matthew Ogden against first-degree murder charges in the June 2015 death of his 1-month-old daughter.
Prosecutors charged Ogden after the infant girl died following a brutal nighttime episode in which they say he violently shook his daughter and screamed at her. Ogden’s wife, Phyllis Amy Wyatt, witnessed the beating and was later charged with negligent child abuse resulting in death. She pleaded guilty and is currently serving an 8-year prison term.
Now as Ogden’s trial proceeds, his public defender says that Ogden has multiple mental problems and that he hadn’t taken his medication when he spoke to investigators shortly after his daughter’s death, so his statements from those interviews shouldn’t be allowed . The defense is also moving to have photo and cell phone evidence thrown out that they say was illegally seized without a warrant.
Attorneys for both sides will be back in court today as the motions hearing continues.
