Defense Wants To Suppress Video Confession in Montco Infant's Murder
By Brad Segall
NORRISTOWN, Pa. (CBS) -- Attorneys for the King of Prussia, Pa. man charged with murdering a ten-month-old infant and her grandmother last year were once again in Montgomery County Court today, this time fighting to prevent a jury from seeing some key pieces of prosecution evidence.
During Raghu Yandamuri's preliminary hearing, defense attorney Steve Heckman labeled a videotaped confession by his client "damaging." Heckman is now arguing to have that video suppressed, to keep it away from a jury should the case go to trial.
In the video, the 27-year-old man describes in graphic detail for detectives what happened to ten-month-old Saanvi Venna and her grandmother inside their Upper Merion apartment in October of last year (see related story). He said he accidentally slashed the grandmother across the throat, and then stuffed the baby in a suitcase and left it in the basement of one of the buildings.
Prosecutors call it a botched kidnapping, contending that Yandamuri needed the money because he had gambling debts.
Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty.
