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Sandra Yi and Mary Richards reporting A couple accused of beating their 10-year-old daughter to death will be tried for murder, separately.
Ryan and Angela Andrews were in court this morning in Farmington, and waived their preliminary hearings.
Ryan and Angela Andrews appeared separately this morning. Both said very little, only answering the judge when they agreed to waive their preliminary hearings.
A judge ordered Ryan Andrews to have no contact with any of the child witnesses in the case, including his two children, a stepchild and another relative.
As for his wife Angela, she waived her hearing on the condition that she could watch videotapes of those witnesses and review that evidence. She is also not allowed to contact any of those witnesses.
Angela's attorney also said he expects his client to enter a not guilty plea by reason of diminished capacity.
Defense attorney John Caine says Angela was on heavy medication when Shelby died.
He says she may also have some mental health issues. He wants to appoint doctors to evaluate her.
"I have a client who, in my opinion has never engaged in any conduct even remotely resembling this, and all of a sudden, in a two or three day period, we have this. You can't sugar coat this in any way. It's awful, and why does this happen? I don't know, and I have to try to find out and that's what I'm doing, " Caine said.
Ryan and Angela Andrews are accused of murdering 10-year old Shelby Andrews on August 1st. Police say the girl's father and stepmother beat her for days because she was difficult. They are also charged with aggravated sexual abuse of a child, because she was beaten in the genital area.
Some family members attended today's hearing, but declined to comment. The couple will be back in court October 30th.
