For Immediate Release
Update – Rachel Morin Murder Case: Motions Hearing Scheduled for Friday, January 31, 2025
January 28, 2025, Bel Air, MD – The family of Rachel Morin is preparing for the upcoming Motions Hearing scheduled for Friday, January 31, 2025, at 9:30 a.m. in Harford County Circuit Court, Courtroom 2-01, before the Honorable Judge Yolanda L. Curtin.
Read the Motion for Change of Venue here: Victor Martinez-Hernandez (Motion for change of venue)
This hearing represents a significant moment in the pursuit of justice for Rachel Morin, who was tragically raped and murdered in August 2023 while walking on the Ma & Pa Trail. The defendant, Victor Martinez-Hernandez, an alleged illegal immigrant, is now facing charges for this heinous crime that devastated the community and captured national attention.
A motions hearing in Maryland allows the State and the Defense to argue over critical issues, including which evidence will be admitted for trial. Motions hearings can also address procedural matters such as venue, witness admissibility, and constitutional rights. The trial is currently scheduled to begin on April 1, 2025.
At this hearing, it is anticipated that the Defense will argue for a change of venue, citing the widespread media coverage and the intense public reaction to the case.
According to a previously filed motion, the Defense claims that “the impending trial and the events surrounding this incident have been the subject of numerous inflammatory and prejudicial reports in both legacy and social media. Public reaction to these reports has been uniformly derogatory against the Defendant. The numerous comments which accompany media reports indicate that the Defendant has been the subject of nationwide public hatred and vilification, notwithstanding that no trial has yet occurred.”
Attorney Randolph Rice expressed the family’s focus on this critical step in the judicial process. “This hearing is an important milestone as we move closer to justice for Rachel. The family remains committed to seeing this process through and ensuring the evidence is presented fairly at trial. They are prepared for this step and remain resolute in their pursuit of accountability.”
For interview requests, please contact attorney Randolph Rice at rr@ricelawmd.com, or the office at (410) 583-6969.
Images and logos are available upon request.