BENTONVILLE — Prosecutors will be able to use Zachary Holly's confession as evidence against him during his November murder trial.
Holly, 29, of Bentonville is charged with capital murder, rape, kidnapping and residential burglary in connection with 6-year-old Jersey Bridgeman's Nov. 20, 2012 death. Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty.
Holly's attorneys had filed a suppression motion seeking to prevent statements that Holly made to police from being used as evidence during the trial
Circuit Judge Brad Karen presided over a hearing Friday on the issue. Karren ruled against the defense which means prosecutors will be allowed to use Holly's statement as evidence at the trial.
Karren found that Holly voluntarily agreed to speak with police and on two ocassions he was given Miranda warning before talking with police.
One of Holly's attorney claimed that police had coerced a confession from Holly during a Nov. 26, 2012 interview at the Bentonville Police Department.
Kris Moffit, a detective with Bentonville police, testified that he gave Holly his Miranda warning prior to Nov. 26 interview. Moffit denied coercing or making false promises to Holly in order to obtain the confession.
Moffit and other police officers testified about their contact with Holly. The specifics of what Holly actually told police were not discussed by the witnesses during the hearing.
Recordings of the interviews were also not played during the hearing.
Holly's attorneys and prosecutors entered the interviews as exhibits during the hearing. The recordings and transcripts of the interviews were all placed under seal by the judge.
Holly's jury trial is slated to begin Nov. 3.
He previously pleaded not guilty to the charges.