No Change Of Venue For Man Accused In Christina Morris Kidnapping
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McKINNEY (CBSDFW.COM) - A North Texas judge has denied a change of venue request from the prime suspect in the disappearance of Christina Morris.
Enrique Arochi's lawyers had presented Judge Mark Rusch with a motion to transfer the venue, saying their client can't get a fair trial in Collin County because of the notoriety and nationwide media coverage on the case.
Members of Christina Morris' family say they just want answers and hope today's hearing will bring them one step closer to justice. As they have in days past, the 23-year-old's family attended today's proceedings.
Arochi faces Aggravated Kidnapping and other charges related in the disappearance of Morris. He was the last person to see the young woman in August of 2014. Morris vanished from a Plano parking garage at The Shops at Legacy after visiting with friends over the Labor Day weekend. Arochi is one of her former high school classmates.
Surveillance video shows Arochi and Morris walking to the parking garage together, but Morris, walking or driving he vehicle, is never seen leaving. Detectives believe the woman was inside of Arochi's vehicle when he drove out of the parking garage. Morris was reported missing a couple of says later when she didn't show up for work.
In addition to the change of venue, Judge Rusch also ruled on several suppression of evidence requests and other issues. The defense presented some 40 motions during the hearing.
♦♦♦ Complete Coverage Of The Christina Morris Case ♦♦♦
Arochi has attended all the proceedings this week, wearing a green jumpsuit and leg shackles. He is being held in the Collin County Jail on a $1 million bond.
The trial for Enrique Arochi is scheduled to begin on September 6.
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