Kaitlin Armstrong murder trial to begin June 2023 as judge denies defense motions to suppress evidence
‘There was no evidence of any intentional disregard for the truth’ says Judge Brenda Kennedy
The judge presiding over the murder trial for Kaitlin Armstrong, accused in connection to the shooting death of cyclist Moriah Wilson, has dismissed two motions filed by Armstrong's defense team to suppress evidence.
"There was no evidence of any intentional disregard for the truth," Judge Brenda Kennedy stated in a court hearing on Wednesday regarding Armstrong's defense team's filing of a Frank’s Hearing and Motion to Suppress Evidence to challenge the truth of the information which detectives used to support the search and arrest warrants during their initial investigation.
Armstrong's murder trial was expected to begin in October but was delayed pending Judge Brenda Kennedy's decision on the two motions. The jury trial is now scheduled to begin on June 26, 2023.
Armstrong has been formally charged with first-degree murder in connection to Wilson's death in an East Austin, Texas, home on May 11. She is currently held at the Travis County Jail in Austin, with a bond set at $3.5 million. She pleaded not guilty to the charges.
In a pre-trial hearing on October 19 at a Travis County court, Armstrong's defense team requested that Judge Brenda Kennedy throw out some of the evidence obtained by authorities during their investigation of the case.
Armstrong's defense team filed a Frank’s Hearing and Motion to Suppress Evidence that challenged the information which detectives used in their affidavit to support the search and arrest warrants.
Prosecutors acknowledged errors in the original affidavit but suggested that those errors were not a reckless disregard for the truth.
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
Judge Brenda Kennedy stated in court on Wednesday “there was no evidence of any intentional disregard for the truth," according to a report in KXAN, an Austin-based news outlet.
In addition, the defense team argued the legality of authorities' questioning of Armstrong on May 12, in a video interview, when she was brought in with an outstanding class B warrant for her arrest that concerned an unrelated incident. At that time, she was briefly detained and questioned by authorities about the death of Wilson, but the defense team argued that she was not read her full Miranda rights.
State attorneys have said that the detective who questioned Armstrong told her that she was free to leave five times.
Judge Brenda Kennedy said that the defense team did not convince the court that detectives acted unconstitutionally and the court would not suppress the video evidence of the interview in the upcoming trial set to begin on June 26, 2023.
Cyclingnews has pieced together a timeline of how authorities believe this crime allegedly unfolded, based on legal documents. Cyclingnews will provide additional updates as more information from authorities becomes available.
Thank you for reading 5 articles in the past 30 days*
Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read any 5 articles for free in each 30-day period, this automatically resets
After your trial you will be billed £4.99 $7.99 €5.99 per month, cancel anytime. Or sign up for one year for just £49 $79 €59
Join now for unlimited access
Try your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Kirsten Frattini is the Deputy Editor of Cyclingnews, overseeing the global racing content plan.
Kirsten has a background in Kinesiology and Health Science. She has been involved in cycling from the community and grassroots level to professional cycling's biggest races, reporting on the WorldTour, Spring Classics, Tours de France, World Championships and Olympic Games.
She began her sports journalism career with Cyclingnews as a North American Correspondent in 2006. In 2018, Kirsten became Women's Editor – overseeing the content strategy, race coverage and growth of women's professional cycling – before becoming Deputy Editor in 2023.