Analyst: Jesse Matthew capital defense team may seek to move trial

FILE - In this Nov. 14, 2014 file photo Jesse Matthew Jr. looks toward the gallery while appearing in court in Fairfax, Va. (AP Photo/The Washington Post, Bill O'Leary, Pool, File) (Copyright by WSLS - All rights reserved)

(WSLS 10) - A series of subpoenas in the capital murder case against Jesse Matthew Jr. may suggest his defense is looking to move the trial out of Albemarle County.

Matthew's defense team has subpoenaed 11 media outlets from across Virginia. The defense is asking for news reports and documents related to the death and disappearance of 18-year-old Hannah Graham and the prosecution of Matthew.

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Matthew is accused of abducting and killing Graham. He is facing a capital murder charge.

The prosecution and defense are scheduled to argue the motions next week.

"The judge is going to have to decide if particular jurors know too much about the case, whether they can set aside what they know, whether they're firmly persuaded, whether there has been a lot of passion in the case. So what they need to know is, they need to know what exactly has been said, what has been in the media," said Lloyd Snook, legal analyst.

Matthew is also charged with the 2009 abduction and murder of Virginia Tech student and Roanoke native Morgan Harrington.