Family members for both Ridgeway and Sigg attended the arraignment hearing on March 12, 2013. Almost all on both sides wore purple.
Sigg’s attorneys requested the arraignment be delayed for two months.
Munsinger pressed Sigg’s attorneys to explain why they needed more time to enter a plea for their client. He stressed the need to keep the court process on track.
In making the defense team’s case for more time, attorney Katherine Spengler told the judge there were 50,000 pages of discovery, 1,800 pieces of physical evidence and 2,500 photographs. Spengler also said the public defender’s office needs new software to access some of the computer evidence.
“A race to justice really is no justice at all,” she said.
The defense also requested a private meeting with the judge, without prosecutors present. They alluded to possible evidence they wanted to discuss but didn’t want prosecutors to be aware of. Munsinger instructed them to file a written request for that conference.
The judge reminded the defense attorneys they were only being asked to enter a plea at Tuesday’s hearing. “You’ve got three choices, guilty, not guilty or not guilty by reason of insanity,” he said. He added that they would likely be able to amend a plea if necessary.
Jefferson County District Court Judge Stephen Munsinger granted a 30-day delay in the arraignment. The judge set the new arraignment for April 12 at 1:30 p.m. MST.
Brief Summary of Jessica’s Case
10-year-old Jessica Ridgeway was kidnapped on her way to school on October 5, 2012. Her body was found five days later in a field in Arvada. Authorities say Austin Sigg, then 17, confessed to the kidnapping and slaying. He was arrested October 23.
Sigg, who turned 18 in jail, is charged with 18 counts related to Jessica’s death, as well as an attack on a jogger at Ketner Lake over Memorial Day weekend last year. Five of those counts carry mandatory life sentences.
Jessica Ridgeway Case Posts
http://www.jessicaridgeway.com/2013/02/preliminary-hearing-for-jessica-ridgeway-case-complete/
The Denver Post
http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_22772890/austin-sigg-enter-plea-kidnapping-death-jessica-ridgeway
Channel 7 News
http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/jessica-ridgeway/jessica-ridgeway-case-suspect-austin-sigg-expected-to-enter-a-plea-on-tuesday
Ah! The workings of the judicial system. The dude confessed all the evidence is there.
Qulity move on the poor family needs closure!
A race to justice if there were doubts is one thing, but not if he has confessed save the money and hang Sigg!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I agree. He confessed to everything. His DNA was all over her remains and her backpack. What proof do you need? What protecting does HE need? Put him away and do it quick. Give this family a chance to give a statement to his sorry face and then bury him under the prison where he will never hurt or kill another innocent child. He doesnt deserve to ever breath another free breath!
He planned and plotted and seeked out a child to dismember! Seriously! What is this world coming to when not only do they have a boat load of evidence but a confession! Put him in jail and pray that at least our prison system will take care of him….that meaning the men in there will not tollerate what he has done and he will get what he has coming to him! Heart goes out to Jessica’s mom and dad……just know she is smiing down on you and loving all the purple and is at peace and very well taken care of.
God Bless Jessica.