Sonia Chopra

Special to The Enquirer

LEBANON, Ohio – Attorneys for Brooke Skylar Richardson’s have asked a judge to hold three separate trials for the woman accused of killing and burying her baby in the backyard of her parent’s home.

Richardson, 20, of Carlisle, is charged with aggravated murder, involuntary manslaughter, endangering children, tampering with evidence and abuse of the corpse.

In a motion filed Wednesday, lawyer Charlie H. Rittgers requested that Richardson be tried separately for aggravated murder, then subsequently for involuntary manslaughter and endangering children and finally for tampering with evidence and abuse of a corpse.

In their memorandum, her attorneys wrote that “on multiple occasions,” the state has combined the separate offenses of aggravated murder, involuntary manslaughter and child endangerment but the charges should be looked upon separately.

If Richardson is tried on all the charges together, the defense argues that it will be prejudicial for Richardson. With the state combining all the charges, it is possible that the jury is “likely to be confused and misuse the evidence in a cumulative effect in the case.”

She faces possible life in prison. The case against the former cheerleader has garnered national attention.

On Monday, both sides had met for a pretrial hearing and agreed to proceed to trial on Sept. 3.

There is another pre-trial hearing set for Aug. 19.

Prosecutors did not return calls for comment.

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