ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The man accused of throwing his 5-year-old daughter off a bridge to her death was in court Thursday ahead of his trial next week.
- Last pre-trial hearing Thursday for John Jonchuck before murder trial begins March 18
- Jonchuck accused of throwing daughter, 5, off approach to Skyway Bridge
- Previous stories on this case
A judge ordered John Jonchuck's attendance for a last pre-trial hearing before his trial begins.
His defense lawyers made two motions before the judge today: 1) to exclude testimony regarding hypothermia as a cause of his daughter's death; and 2) to not to allow the word "psychopath" to be used in court, as it might prejudice the jury.
Both motions were denied.
Jonchuck is accused of throwing his daughter, Phoebe, to her death off the approach to the Skyway Bridge in January 2015. He has been charged with first-degree murder.
His murder trial has been delayed in the past because he was found to be mentally incompetent. He has spent the last four years in a state hospital.
Defense attorneys plan to argue that Jonchuck was insane at the time and that voices urged him to kill his daughter.
During today's court hearing, 29-year-old Jonchuck sat quietly and did not speak.
Prosecutors are trying to put him in prison for life for the death of his daughter.
The trial is scheduled to begin March 18.