LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) - The Arkansas Supreme Court has turned away a Drew County man's request for more time to defend himself in a case in which prosecutors are seeking the death penalty.
But the high court said Thursday that a rule change is in order to ensure that capital murder defendants get the time they need to mount a defense.
Daniel Pedraza is accused in the Feb. 27, 2012, death of his 2-year-old stepdaughter, Aubriana Coke.
Pedraza is a Mexican national who also served in combat in the Iraq war. Defense lawyers had trouble getting his military records, needed to interview relatives and say they needed to gather other evidence.
The trial judge ordered a trial last October, but the Supreme Court said only a post-trial appeal could decide the time question.
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