COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.—Attorneys for a woman accused of dragging a tow-truck driver to his death want the trial moved because they say media coverage will make it nearly impossible to find impartial jurors in the county where the death occurred.
Detra Farries is charged with felony hit and run, vehicular manslaughter, vehicular homicide, leaving the scene of an accident and other violations in the Feb. 23 death of 35-year-old Allen Rose. She pleaded not guilty.
Her trial is set for Nov. 7. The Colorado Springs Gazette ( ) said a hearing is scheduled Friday on the defense motion to move the trial.
Authorities say Rose was preparing to tow an illegally parked SUV in Colorado Springs when someone got in the vehicle and drove away. Investigators say Rose tried to chase down the SUV but got tangled in the dangling tow cable and was dragged for more than a mile.
Prosecutors say Farries ignored Rose’s attempts to flag her down. Farries told police she didn’t know she was being towed.
In a Sept. 1 motion, public defenders contended that media coverage has prejudiced prospective jurors in El Paso County. They cited vitriolic comments on news websites in arguing that the public had already made up its mind.
Prosecutors opposed moving the trial, saying interviews with prospective jurors would be sufficient to weed out people who have made up their mind about the case.
The defense may have a difficult time persuading the judge to move the trial, said veteran Colorado Springs defense attorney Dennis Hartley.
Farries’ case hasn’t received the kind of sustained, pervasive coverage that led to venue changes for defendants in other El Paso County trials, he said.
