POWESHIEK COUNTY, Iowa - There's agreement that some statements Cristhian Rivera made to investigators after the murder of Mollie Tibbetts should not be used in his trial.
State prosecutors Friday admitted Rivera's Miranda rights were incorrectly read to him initially.
The state admitted that an officer inadvertently failed to inform Rivera that anything he said could be used against him in a court of law.
Rivera was properly given his Miranda rights more than six hours later. The state concedes that comments made between the two Miranda readings should be suppressed.
Rivera is accused of killing Tibbetts, who disappeared after jogging in her hometown of Brooklyn, Iowa in July of last year.
Her body was found about a month later in a cornfield and investigators said she was stabbed to death. Rivera admitted to killing Tibbetts during an interview.
His attorneys have filed a motion to more broadly suppress evidence than the state agreed to Friday.
A judge will hold hearings to consider that motion next Tuesday through Thursday at the Poweshiek County Courthouse.
Rivera's trial is set to start February 4, 2020 after being delayed several times, partly to allow expert witnesses looked over evidence.