CHARLOTTESVILLE (WSLS 10) - The cases against Jesse Matthew Jr. are moving forward.
Matthew made back-to-back appearances in an Albemarle County court room on Wednesday. The hearings were related to the murder charges he faces in the deaths of Hannah Graham and Morgan Harrington.
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The first hearing the judge denied several motions from Matthew's legal team.
Matthew also attended a status hearing on the Harrington case where he waived his right to a speedy trial, which is set to begin on October 24, 2016.
Morgan's mother, Gil, has attended every trial and hearing since Matthew's arrest - always believing he killed her daughter.
Gil Harrington said she wanted Matthew to plead guilty and avoid prolonged trials in both the murder case of her daughter, Morgan, and the capital murder case in the killing of University of Virginia student Hannah Graham. Harrington said such pleas would be "merciful" for all of the families involved, including Matthew's.
In the courtroom she reached out to his mother.
"I walked across the aisle and looked Jesse's mother in the eyes. I told her that I understood this was very difficult on their family as well. I gave her my condolences and I shook her hand. It was the right thing to do," said Gil Harrington, Morgan's mother.
Matthew will be back in court Friday, October 2 for sentencing in the Fairfax County sexual assault that happened in 2005.
The Associated Press contributed to this article.