UPDATE: Hot Car Death Dad's Trial Date Set

The Cobb County man accused of intentionally leaving his 22-month-old son inside a hot car to die will go on trial early next year, a judge said Monday.

Cobb County judge Mary E. Staley announced the start date of Ross Harris’ trial as Feb. 22, 2016, according to WSB. Prosecutors argue that Ross Harris purposely neglected to drop his son Cooper off at his daycare on June 18, 2014 and left him strapped into his car seat for seven hours. Prosecutors also claim that Harris searched online for information on hot car deaths and ways to live a “child-free” life.

Harris was indicted by a grand jury on Sep. 4, 2014 on eight counts relating to the death of his son. Harris pleaded not guilty to all eight counts against him in October.

Cobb County District Attorney Vic Reynolds announced in September of 2014 that the state would not seek the death penalty against Harris if he is convicted.

• Ross Harris’ Statements to Police Can be Used in Hot Car Death Trial
• Ross Harris’ Hot Car Death Trial Open to Public, Media
• Attorney for Hot Car Death Dad Says Media Has Poisoned Potential Jurors

Ross Harris’ defense team was in court on Monday morning asking that charges related to their clients’ alleged ”sexting” of a minor be removed from the main murder trial and given a trial of their own. Harris is accused of using his phone to ask a girl under 18 to send nude photographs to him, sending nude photographs of himself to her, and describing sexual conduct to her all while Cooper was strapped into the back seat of Harris’ car.

Last month, Cobb County Judge Mary E. Staley ruled that statements Harris made to police shortly after the death of his son Cooper could be used in the upcoming murder trial. Harris allegedly swore at an officer trying to get him off the phone and allegedly told a detective that he hadn’t left Cooper in the car intentionally, something the detective had never heard anyone say before.

That same detective testified in July 2014 that Harris had two life insurance policies on Cooper’s life.