Michael Stagles and his girlfriend, Erica Bell, will go on trial together for the death of three-yeear-old Brook Stagles.
Both were in court today, where their trial was set for July and the judge refused defense requests to deny statements they made about the girl’s death to Child Protective Services. Bell is charged with murder and manslaughter — and Stagles is charged with negligent homicide — in Brook’s death last fall.
Prosecutor Sara Vanstrydonck says it may be tough to seat an impartial jury.
Prosecutors say the girl died of blunt force trauma to the abdomen, but they’re still waiting for the Medical Examiner’s report on her death.