Defense denied access to Matthew’s home

Matthew’s family has not been allowed inside his home.   They have asked authorities if they could go into the home to get their son’s belongings and personal papers, but have been denied. ”We’d like to file his taxes and get his personal papers,” Stewart’s father said, adding that there are many things inside the home that have nothing to do with the alleged crime.

One of Stewart’s defense attorneys, Randy Richards, filed a motion claiming that he has also been denied access to the house for investigative purposes.  He said there are a number of items in the house that are important to the Matthew’s case.

In order to sufficiently present his defense, it is important that defendant has access to whatever buildings, materials and possessions the prosecution has and will use to form their case. Access to his property where the incident occurred is essential to the accurate development of the defense’s case.
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It has now been six weeks since the shooting occurred and defense counsel desperately needs access to the home in order to prepare a defense, preserve evidence, take pictures and other investigative testing before time and weather or other factors deteriorate evidence. It is the right of the defendant to conduct his own inspection, examination and testing of the crime scene.

In an effort to further control access to the home, the Weber County Attorney’s Office has filed paperwork seeking to permanently seize Matthew’s home.