Jesse Matthew's Attorneys Request Gag Order, DNA Expert in Fairfax Case

Defense attorneys for the man accused of abducting University of Virginia student Hannah Graham are asking the court to enact a gag order during the proceedings of a 2005 attempted murder case in Fairfax.

Attorneys for Jesse Leroy Matthew Jr. filed a request for a gag order after the prosecution reportedly spoke with reporters following each hearing in the Fairfax case. The filing also cites media reports that provide specific details of the timing of Matthew’s transportation between Fairfax and Charlottesville, NBC Washington reports.

In the filing, Matthew’s attorneys also requested $2,000 to hire their own DNA expert, claiming the DNA under a fingernail of the Fairfax victim is the only link that exists between Matthew and the assault. According to the filing, the defense was never given a copy of the certificate of analysis by the commonwealth.

Jesse Matthew, 32, pleaded not guilty to charges of attempted capital murder, rape and sexual assault in connection with a 2005 attack of a 26-year-old Fairfax woman.

In September, authorities arrested and charged Matthew in connection with the abduction of 18-year-old Hannah Graham, whose remains were located near Charlottesville in October. Authorities linked DNA evidence from the case to the 2005 assault in Fairfax as well as the 2009 disappearance and death of 20-year-old Virginia Tech student Morgan Harrington.

The hearing for the gag order request will take place Jan. 8.