DES MOINES, Iowa - Attorneys for the man accused of killing Mollie Tibbetts are asking the trial judge to delay his court date to allow investigators to follow up on "highly favorable" findings.
Cristhian Rivera's legal team wants more time to talk to state witnesses and investigate new blood and fingerprint evidence.
The defense is also is asking the Iowa Supreme Court to review the judge's December 23rd decision to allow most evidence to be taken to trial, despite their argument to have it suppressed.
Prosecutors have quickly responded, saying there is no valid reason to delay the trial.
Some evidence gathered during the detention of Rivera was suppressed by the trial judge in late December, but key physical evidence gathered as a result of that interrogation is still being allowed.
The judge ruled the Miranda rights originally read to Rivera were inadequate, making statements between that time and a second Miranda reading more than six hours later inadmissible.
Tibbetts, a 20-year-old University of Iowa student, disappeared while jogging in her hometown of Brooklyn in July of 2018, and was found just over a month later when police say Rivera led them to her body in a cornfield.
Unless the judge allows the delay, Rivera's trial is scheduled to begin February 4th in Sioux City.