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LOGAN, Utah (AP) — A judge has ruled that hearings for two teenagers accused of shooting a 14-year-old girl in the head and leaving her critically wounded in a ditch will remain open to the public and media.
The Deseret News reports (http://bit.ly/2nbfTn8) that Judge Angela Fonnesbeck on Tuesday in Logan denied a request from defense attorneys to make the case private. The attorneys argued that open hearings would lead to "gossiping" and taint a jury pool.
Lawyer Michael O'Brien countered that state law stipulates that court cases for suspects 14 and older be kept open. He represented a Salt Lake City media coalition opposing the request that includes The Associated Press.
The two 16-year-old boys have been charged with aggravated murder, robbery and other counts.
The Associated Press is not naming the boys because they are juveniles.
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Information from: Deseret News, http://www.deseretnews.com
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