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(Salt Lake City-AP) -- A judge has denied a motion by Melissa Ann Rowland's attorney to restrict media access to his client.
A Third District Court judge today denied Michael Sikora's request, saying there was no compelling reason to restrict media access to Rowland.
The 28-year-old woman is charged with murder for allegedly failing to undergo a Caesarean section that doctors said would have saved the life of one of her twins. One of the babies was delivered stillborn. The surviving baby was found with traces of cocaine and alcohol in her system.
Judge Paul Maughan (MAWn) writes that Rowland appears competent to make decisions on her own behalf or with her attorney over whether or not to talk to the media.
The defendant and her attorneys, the judge says, are - quote - "capable of formulating and implementing any pretrial media strategy they desire."
(Copyright 2004 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
