WWW arkcity.net

Photo by Donita Clausen click image to enlarge

By FOSS FARRAR
Traveler Staff Writer

All pretrial hearings in the Justin Thurber case will be open to the media, except for one, a district court judge ruled Friday.

Cowley County District Judge Jim Pringle ruled that with the exception of a hearing on statements made by the defendant, Thurber, all other hearings will be open to the press.

Pringle heard arguments in the two-hour hearing Friday morning from defense and prosecution attorneys and an attorney representing the Wichita Eagle and KWCH-Channel 12 on whether certain evidence should be sealed and hearings closed before the trial.

Thurber is charged with capital murder and other charges in the disappearance and death of Jodi Sanderholm, a 19-year-old Cowley College student. Her body was found last Jan. 9, four days after she went missing.

The defendant also faces charges of rape, aggravated kidnapping and aggravated criminal sodomy. The trial is scheduled for June 24.

Above: Justin Thurber and his defense attorney Tim Frieden.