A Comanche County judge has ruled that a portion of a videotaped statement made by a local murder suspect will not be allowed to be presented as evidence at trial next week.
Defense attorneys Thomas Adler III and Brian Jones appeared in court Jan. 13 to argue their motion for a Jackson v. Denno hearing for Lancey D. Ray, who is accused of beating his 10-year-old stepson to death.
Comanche County District Judge Gerald Neuwirth agreed with their argument that when Lawton police detectives questioned Ray about Malik Ray's injuries, they continued to "interrogate" the defendant even after he had invoked his right to legal counsel, which was a violation of his Constitutional rights.
Ray is accused of using a wooden cutting board, a belt and other household objects to severely beat Malik Ray during the day and evening of Dec. 22, 2010. The whipping, which Ray reportedly viewed as discipline, eventually resulted in the boy's death, prosecutors allege. Saturday, January 28, 2012
