The defense attorneys for Christopher Watts, who is accused of killing his wife and children, are asking for a hearing on the coroner’s petition to seal the autopsy reports, arguing against the coroner’s request for a closed hearing on the issue.
In a motion filed to the criminal case against Watts Friday, the defense argues a hearing is necessary to determine the merit of the arguments for sealing the autopsies. According to that motion, the defense also filed a motion to intervene in the coroner’s petition, which is a civil case, Friday. The defense said it filed the motion in the criminal case “out of an abundance of caution.”
The Weld County Coroner filed a petition Monday requesting permission to keep the autopsy reports for 34-year-old Shanann Watts, 4-year-old Bella and 3-year-old Celeste from the public.
Watts, 33, was arrested in connection with their murders on Aug. 15 and faces five counts of first-degree murder, one count of first-degree unlawful termination of pregnancy and three counts of tampering with a deceased human body.
In an email announcing his petition, Coroner Carl Blesch said a hearing had not yet been scheduled for the case.
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