Little Rock -  A judge has denied requests by defense lawyers to restrict police and jailhouse informants wishing to talk to a man accused of killing KATV's Anne Pressly.

Pulaski County Circuit Judge Chris Piazza said Curtis Lavelle Vance could make his own decisions on whether to ask his lawyers to attend police interviews, and whether to talk to other inmates in the county jail. Vance is being held pending trial for the 2008 slaying of the KATV morning anchor. Pressly, 26, was found severely beaten in her Little Rock home on October 20th. She died five days later without regaining consciousness. Vance was arrested by Little Rock police on November 26th. 

Lawyers for Vance claimed that police denied Vance an opportunity to have his lawyers present during two interviews. But Chief Deputy Prosecutor John Johnson said Vance requested the two interviews with police and waived his rights to counsel during both interrogations.

Piazza agreed, and said Vance has the responsibility to decide when to talk and when to remain silent.

The judge also denied a request that Vance be allowed to attend hearings in civilian clothes, rather than in the jail-issued orange jump suits.

Pressly's parents, Guy and Patti Cannady, sat in a back corner of the courtroom during the hearing.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

For a complete list of stories on the Anne Pressly homicide, and the investigation, click here.

 Email To Friend           Digg It!