Attorneys for a former Kansas University student accused of kidnapping and brutally attacking his ex-girlfriend are seeking to have all statements the defendant made to police thrown out.

Matthew Jaeger is scheduled to stand trial starting July 27 on multiple charges stemming from the October 2007 incident, including aggravated kidnapping and aggravated battery.

He’s accused of breaking into his ex-girlfriend’s apartment in the 1200 block of George Court and choking her until she lost consciousness. When she regained consciousness, she had severe injuries to her pelvic region and vaginal area. Prosecutors have said Jaeger, 22 at the time of the incident, then dragged her down the stairs to a waiting car and kidnapped her.

Lawrence police officers spotted Jaeger’s car fleeing the scene and stopped the vehicle near Sixth and Florida streets. On Monday afternoon in Douglas County District Court, Jaeger’s attorneys argued that all statements Jaeger made to police during that stop, after his arrest and during the subsequent police interviews should be suppressed.

Defense Attorney Michael Saken argued officers should have read Jaeger his Miranda rights the moment he was detained as a possible suspect in the case. Saken said that occurred when the first officer on the scene ordered Jaeger, who was seated in the back of the car, to stay in the vehicle with his hands on top of the seat in front of him.

Lawrence police officer Larry Lindsay, who made the arrest, testified he read Jaeger his rights at the law enforcement center prior to conducting a roughly hour-and-a-half interview.

But Saken argued officers illegally tried to elicit information from his client after detaining him at the scene of the car stop.

“Neither you nor any other officer in your presence ever advised Mr. Jaeger of his constitutional rights,” Saken said while cross-examining police officer Robert Neff, one of the three officers on the scene of the car stop.

Prosecutors asked the judge to deny the defense motion, saying the officers had made an “investigative detention” and were still trying to sort out what had happened that night.

“One thing is clear: they didn’t know what they had on their hands during the car stop,” Assistant District Attorney David Melton said. “The defendant’s statements given before and after the arrest were freely and voluntarily made.”

The defense also claims Lindsay, who questioned Jaeger, made a threatening move by walking into the interrogation room and, while Jaeger was handcuffed, placed his large flashlight on the table.

“There’s no excuse for the conduct of officer Lindsay,” Saken told the judge.

Judge Robert Fairchild took the issue under advisement and said he would issue a ruling after watching a recording of the police interview with Jaeger.