Judge Denies Defense Motions In UVa Student Slaying Case

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (AP) -- A judge has denied defense motions regarding experts in the case of a man charged with killing a University of Virginia student.

Multiple media outlets report that Jesse Matthew Jr.'s court-appointed lawyers sought a separate judge to hear in private their requests to fund two experts.

Matthew's lawyers say they can't identify the experts because of privacy concerns about their trial strategy.

Prosecutors opposed the requests.

Albemarle County Circuit Court Judge Cheryl Higgins denied the motions on Wednesday

The 33-year-old Matthew is charged with capital murder in the 2014 death of 18-year-old Hannah Graham.

Last week, Matthew was sentenced in Fairfax County to life in prison for a sexual assault on a woman a decade ago. He also is charged with first-degree murder in the death of 20-year-old Morgan Harrington.