NJ.com: Bathtub Murder Confession Can't Be Used

The judge presiding over the Miranda hearing for accused bathtub murderer Kleber Cordova ruled on Wednesday that the prosecution may not introduce as evidence Cordova’s video-recorded confession of drowning his wife in their Western Avenue apartment, according to a NJ.com article.

Judge Thomas V. Manahan said the confession is inadmissible because Cordova, an Ecuadoran native in the U.S. illegally and speaks little to no English, had asked to have an attorney present during another interrogation the night before, but an attorney had not been provided, according to the article.

The defense has argued since last summer that Cordova had his Miranda rights violated after he'd confessed to drowning his wife, Eliana Torres, in the bathtub of their 85 Western Ave. apartment on May 8, 2008 after she had admitted to seeing another man. The defense has argued that Cordova's confession to killing his wife should be thrown out because Cordova asked for an attorney during that questioning, a request that was not at that time granted. 

The prosecution has said Cordova's Miranda rights had not been violated and that it was the state's opinion that each statement he made along the way was made voluntarily.

To see the complete article, click here. The next pre-trial public meeting is scheduled for 9 a.m. June 29.