Shackled at the wrists and ankles, Chad Doerman shuffled into a Clermont County courtroom looking straight ahead.
local12.com
by David Winter, WKRC
Fri, September 22nd 2023, 5:02 PM EDT
CINCINNATI (WKRC) - The Monroe Township man
accused of lining-up his three little boys and shooting them to death execution style appeared in court for a pre-trial hearing. There's now a trial date, but also a lot to get through before a jury is seated.
Shackled at the wrists and ankles, Chad Doerman shuffled into a Clermont County courtroom looking straight ahead. The 34-year-old man's expressionless face was similar to how police found him three months ago, sitting quietly in front of his Monroe Township home, a rifle by his side. Nearby, his three sons -- seven, four and three years old -- were shot to death. The prosecutor would later say that Doerman not only admitted to executing his sons with the rifle, but claimed he had been planning the murders for months.
Doerman, in court for 15 minutes on Friday, never acknowledged his defense attorneys, but they have been busy filing on their client's behalf 41 motions.
They included a request for Doerman to appear before a jury in plain clothes without restraints. The prosecution did not object to the clothes, but replied that it wants Doerman to at least have non-visible restraints.
One motion requested the judge suppress any gruesome photos of the victims, as they may prejudice the jury. The prosecution objects to the motion, stating photos of the dead boys are illustrative of the testimony of the State's witnesses.
Another motion requested that the jury pool include convicted felons. The prosecution did not object to the motion, as long as it abides by the law, which states convicted felons may serve on juries as long as they have been granted final release from the state and termination of post-release control.
Motions aside, this courthouse will be busy next summer. The judge has set the trial date for July 8. The prosecution said they should expect at least a month to hear the case. But before that happens, the judge will need to decide on the motions, which will happen in late November. Until that time, Doerman will remain in jail, held without bond.
This is a capital case, so Doerman could face the death penalty should a jury convict him.