INDIANAPOLIS — An Indianapolis woman charged with helping rig a deadly house explosion wants her murder trial to be held in another county.
Attorney James Voyles filed a motion for a change of venue Thursday for Monserrate Shirley, whose home in a neighborhood on the city's south side exploded on Nov 10. The blast destroyed 33 homes and killed a couple living next to Shirley's house.
Voyles argues that Shirley can't get a fair trial in Marion County due to public outrage, bias and media coverage.
No hearing on the motion was scheduled.
Forty-seven-year-old Shirley, her 43-year-old boyfriend Mark Leonard and his 54-year-old brother Robert Leonard Jr. face charges of murder, arson and conspiracy. Their trial is set for March 4.
Prosecutors are considering seeking the death penalty in the case.
