Attorney tries to block ‘graphic’ testimony

An attorney for a Lawrence man charged with murdering his wife wants to keep jurors from hearing “graphic and embarrassing” sexual testimony during trial next month.

The request is one of roughly a dozen pretrial motions scheduled for hearings starting Thursday before the murder trial of carpenter Martin K. Miller, 46.

He’s charged with asphyxiating his wife, Kansas University librarian Mary E. Miller, in July 2004 at their home at 21st and Carolina streets.

Miller’s attorney, Mark Manna, will argue this week that details of the affair Miller was having with a Eudora woman at the time of his wife’s death would be “irrelevant, immaterial and prejudicial” for jurors to hear.

Manna also wants Judge Paula Martin to bar cameras from the courtroom and to keep details of Mary Miller’s life from being brought into testimony.

The trial starts June 13.

Investigation

Charges possible for dog’s death in trap

Prosecutors are awaiting the results of an investigation into the January death of a dog caught in a hunting trap at a park along the Kansas River.

State wildlife officers say they’re close to finishing a report on the Jan. 30 incident and will send it, perhaps by the end of this week, to Dist. Atty. Charles Branson’s office to review for possible charges.

The 12-year-old Rottweiler mix died Jan. 30 after getting caught in a trap set for raccoons near Second and Indiana streets.

The dog’s owner, a 49-year-old man, waited for the man who had set the trap to come to the scene, then detained him until officers arrived. According to a report, the man who set the trap didn’t have a fur-trapping license.

Lawrence animal control officers initially looked into the case, then referred it to Wildlife and Parks. City Prosecutor Jerry Little said he reviewed the case and decided it would be tough to prove animal-cruelty charges.

Schools

Police investigating photos taken of youth

A 15-year-old male Central Junior High School student is suspected of taking pictures up a female student’s skirt.

The photographs allegedly were taken at school April 7. A school resource officer discovered the photographs by chance April 18, police said.

Police investigated it as a case of eavesdropping. The case has been referred to Dist. Atty. Charles Branson’s office for possible charges.

Public Safety

58 speeding tickets issued in traffic patrol

A special traffic patrol Friday night netted two drunken-driving arrests, 58 speeding tickets and 12 seat-belt violations.

The Lawrence Police Department’s citywide “saturation patrol” lasted from 5 p.m. Friday to 3 a.m. Saturday.

Officers also cited eight people for hazardous moving violations, said Sgt. Dan Ward, a department spokesman.

Gasoline Prices

Patrol seeks fuel deals

The Journal-World has found a gas price as low as $2.05 at Citgo, 2005 W. Ninth St. If you find a lower price, call Pump Patrol at 832-7154.