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NEW YORK (AP) — A state judge has ruled that a New York Times reporter who conducted a jailhouse interview with an accused murderer must testify at trial.
Judge Bonnie Wittner says in a Thursday decision that reporter Frances Robles' testimony could be critical in the prosecution of Conrado Juarez.
The 55-year-old Juarez was arrested in 2013 and charged in the death of a girl called Baby Hope by detectives who discovered her body in 1991.
Prosecutors have said Juarez confessed to smothering the girl, identified later as Anjelica Castillo. His lawyer has argued the confession was coerced.
Four days after his arrest, Robles interviewed him.
Robles reported that Juarez said he helped disposed of the girl's body but denied killing her.
Robles' lawyer tells the newspaper (http://nyti.ms/2aMacZ7 ) she will appeal the ruling.
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Information from: The New York Times, http://www.nytimes.com
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