PUTNAM COUNTY, Fla. â Shackled and chained murder suspect Morgan Leppert walked into a Putnam County courtroom on Friday for one of the last times before she goes to trial.
Now 16, Leppert faces the potential of spending the rest of her life behind bars for her alleged involvement in the slaying of 66-year-old James Stewart, a disabled man found slain in his Melrose home in May of 2008.
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Toby Lowry, Leppert's boyfriend at the time, is serving a life sentence after pleading guilty to murdering Stewart. As part of his plea deal, Lowry agreed to testify against Leppert.
Friday's hearing centered on statements given by Leppert to detectives who traveled to Texas, where the teen and Lowry were found along with Stewart's stolen truck. The pair was found following a nationwide Amber Alert that had been issued because police thought Leppert was in danger.
Now, police believe she is just as guilty as Lowry.
What happened after Leppert and Lowry were found in Texas that was the subject of the argument in court on Friday. An interview done with Leppert by detectives from Putman County is something the defense said should not allowed.
"You understood that if she began to make incriminating statements, that you would stop the interview?" Leppert's attorney Chris Smith asked a detective in court.
The detective replied, "Yes."
Smith said Leppert's interview with detectives was done without proper authorization from her mother or attorney. He said when Lowry implicated Leppert her attorney should have been by her side.
However, the state said Leppert's first attorney, Teresa Sopp, opened the door by saying it was OK to interview Leppert as a witness.
"My understanding was that she was a victim of a crime -- that she had been kidnapped," Sopp testified.
The judge will review the tapes and transcripts from Leppert's interview before making a decision. He took the various motions under advisement, and is expected to hear more arguments June 19.
Leppert's trial is scheduled for Aug. 10 in Flagler County, where it was moved due to pre-trial publicity.