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Murder, hate crime defendant seeks Facebook evidence ban

Posted at 8:59 AM, May 08, 2018
and last updated 2018-05-08 08:59:40-04

Lawyers for the man charged with murder and a hate crime in the fatal stabbing of a black student in Maryland have asked a judge to exclude evidence tying him to a Facebook page called "Alt-Reich: Nation."

News outlets report 23-year-old Sean Urbanski's lawyers filed a motion Friday, saying they believe prosecutors will present content from the now-deleted white supremacist Facebook page that they say is "inflammatory" and "irrelevant."

Urbanski is charged in the death of Richard Collins III, a Bowie State student who was visiting the University of Maryland last year when he was stabbed. State's Attorney Angela Alsobrooks has said digital evidence indicates Collins' killing was racially motivated.

If the judge rules the evidence is admissible, Urbanski's lawyers want separate trials for the murder and hate crime charges.