Odd motion filed in Daybell case, jury selection continues

BOISE, Idaho (KMVT/KSVT) — In an odd twist to the pending death penalty trial of Chad Daybell, a motion to delay the first-degree murder trial was filed late last Friday, but not much is known as to why it was filed, or what the motion contained.

Mountain Home Attorney Terry Ratliff filed the motion through the iCourt portal. And according to East Idaho News, Attorney Wendy Olson was served the motion, along with the prosecution and the defense John Prior.

Judge Steven Boyce ordered the attorneys not to release the motion, and on Tuesday Boyce signed an order sealing it. Boyce wrote: “Both the state and the defense have raised concerns about the impropriety of this attempt to intervene – procedurally and substantively. Additionally, both the state and the defense have requested the court immediately seal the document, or alternatively strike it from the case.”

The motion has been sealed until Boyce is able to schedule a hearing to determine whether it will remain sealed “and set the substance of the motion for hearing.”

Meanwhile More potential jurors have been added to the overall pool for the death penalty trial of Chad Daybell. The state and the defense are in day four for jury selection at the Ada County Courthouse.

At last count, 13 more jurors are needed to reach the goal of 50. After that, the prosecution and the defense will each have 16 preemptory challenges, which will eliminate 32 individuals from the jury pool leaving the 18 needed, 12 jurors and six alternates.

Chad Daybell is facing three counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of his first wife Tammy Daybell, of which he could face the death penalty for, also for the deaths of his current wife’s two children, 16-year-old Tylee Ryan and 7-year-old J.J. Vallow, along with conspiracy to commit murder charges and insurance fraud.

Lori Vallow Daybell was found guilty of the same crimes during her murder trial that began on April 1st of last year in the same courtroom.

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