LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) - Attorneys representing a woman accused of killing a former Arkansas lawmaker are requesting that prosecutors provide more information about why they believe she was motivated by money.
Rebecca O’Donnell’s defense team filed motions ahead of her June 12 hearing, the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reported Wednesday. The Arkansas Times first reported on the recent filings Tuesday.
O’Donnell, 49, has been charged with capital murder, abuse of corpse and evidence tampering in the killing of Sen. Linda Collins. She pleaded not guilty.
Lee Short, one of O’Donnell’s attorneys, said there are “endless possibilities” to what prosecutors could mean by pecuniary gain, according to a May 27 filing. He mentioned that the defense team will need time to investigate whatever claim is made at trial, which is scheduled for October.
“It’s clear that their investigation is ongoing,” Short noted. “To what extent I don’t know, and what they are looking for I’m not privy to.”
Robert Dittrich, the special prosecutor assigned to the case, filed a notice with Randolph County Circuit Court alleging the motive in April. He said Tuesday that he was preparing a response to the defense motions.
“I will try to provide information sufficient to what our beliefs are,” Dittrich said.
Collins’ body was found outside her Pocahontas home, about 130 miles (210 kilometers) northeast of Little Rock, in June of last year. O’Donnell was a close friend and campaign aide to Collins.
Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty. But O’Donnell’s attorneys filed motions this week trying to block it. Short argued that the state’s method of applying the death penalty violates the U.S. Constitution.
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