Last Updated: Friday, August 10, 2007 3:22 PM CDT
Defense wants to suppress physical evidence, statements in Tomahawk murder case
by Heather Schaefer - Daily News Staff - hschaefer@rhinelanderdailynews.com
An attorney for the Rhinelander man accused of stabbing his co-worker to death has filed twelve evidentiary motions including multiple requests for suppression of evidence.
According to court records, attorney Robert Rusch of Medford filed the motions on August 7 on behalf of his client, Seth Louis.
Louis, 24, is charged with first degree intentional homicide (as party to the crime) in connection with the death of Tracy Maurer.
Maurer, 42, Louis' co-worker at the Rhinelander Taco John's, was found dead in her home at 211 W. Merrill Avenue in Tomahawk the morning of April 6.
An autopsy later showed Maurer was stabbed 75 to 80 times in the head and upper torso.
More than a week after Maurer's body was discovered, after a citizen witness came forward and told police one of Louis' friends was keeping a bag of bloody clothes under her bed, Louis was taken into custody.
Police have not commented on a motive but the criminal complaint filed against Louis indicates Louis and Maurer may have quarreled over money Maurer allegedly owed Louis for a computer.
According to testimony at the preliminary hearing in this case, Louis has claimed another person attacked and killed Maurer during a botched robbery.
The defense motions, which are scheduled to be heard on September 24, include requests to suppress physical evidence gathered after searches were conducted and to suppress statements made after officers allegedly failed to “respect the defendant's invocation of right of counsel” and did not properly advise him of his Miranda rights.
One motion indicates the defense believes Louis was subjected to “an unlawful arrest and seizure.”
Finally, the defense is asking the court “to prohibit the state from adducing (arguing) before the jury opinions that the defendant killed Tracy Maurer.”
At this point, Louis is scheduled to go on trial in November but attorneys on both sides of the case have indicated the trial may have to be pushed back to early 2008.
Louis' friend Katie L. Decker, 16, has been charged in adult court with aiding a felon for allegedly hiding Louis' bloodstained clothes. She is free on a surety bond and is expected back in court next week.
The 17-year-old female who claims to have driven Louis from Rhinelander to Tomahawk on April 6 has not been charged.
Louis is being held in the Lincoln County jail on $500,000 cash bail.
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