Lori Vallow Daybell: Judge hears arguments on cameras in court during murder conspiracy trial

PHOENIX - Lori Vallow Daybell, the so-called "Doomsday Mom," was back in court on Tuesday where a judge heard arguments regarding possible livestreaming coverage of her upcoming murder conspiracy trial.

In Arizona, Vallow Daybell is accused of planning the death of her previous husband, Charles Vallow. It was allegedly motivated by Vallow Daybell's religious beliefs, and a $1 million life insurance policy that Charles owned.

Charles was shot by Vallow Daybell's late brother, Alex Cox. Cox had said he shot Charles after a fight involving a baseball bat.

Vallow Daybell argues in favor of camera ban

What we know:

Last month, Vallow Daybell filed a motion asking to keep cameras out of the courtroom. In the motion, Vallow Daybell alleges Court TV aired a commercial that "falsely characterized, libeled and slandered" her and her husband, Chad Daybell.

"Court T.V. should be ashamed of its very nature and its request, since its sole objective is NOT to bring people real news or facts but instead its objective is to entertain the public with the very true-life tragedies that happen in real people's lives," Vallow Daybell wrote in the court document.

On March 11, a judge heard multiple arguments regarding the case.

"We want to make sure that cameras aren’t gonna be zooming in any level to get to our notes and the things that are gonna be on the table," said Vallow Daybell. "What has happened before is that they just have the camera on my face the entire trial."

Vallow Daybell could be referring to a solo shot of her in an Idaho courtroom that ultimately led to a judge banning cameras in her triple murder case up there.

Vallow Daybell, prosecutors argue over police statements

Vallow Daybell also argued against the prosecutor's motion to exclude statements made to police by Cox and 16-year-old Tylee Ryan, who Vallow Daybell and her now-husband, Chad Daybell, killed in September 2019. Vallow Daybell now wants those statements to be allowed in trial.

What they're saying:

"I’m saying what he said and what my daughter said and what I said in those three police interviews determined what the police said, how the police acted, what they did after that, their next steps, how they treated the entire case like it was self-defense. All of those are relevant to the defense that it was self-defense," Vallow Daybell said.

"The defendant cannot benefit from killing a witness, and then later try to bring in their statements for their benefit," Prosecutor Treena Kay said.

The judge says he won't allow Tylee's statements in, and Cox's interview at the scene of the crime will be allowed. The court will also include Vallow Daybell's name in the e-questionnaire sent to 200 jurors, in an effort to weed out anyone who knows about the case.

"We want to know if people have heard about the defendant, and whether or not they’ve formed an opinion or not on this case," said Judge Justin Beresky.

"It’s been my experience that people will say they haven't heard when they know who that really is, and there’s people who will want to be on this jury just for this purpose," Vallow Daybell replied. "It’s gonna be complicated."

What's next:

Vallow Daybell is due back in court on March 18 for a pre-trial conference. Vallow Daybell trial is scheduled to begin on March 31.

Dig deeper:

In Arizona, Vallow Daybell is also accused of attempted murder in connection with her ex-nephew-in-law, Brandon Boudreaux.

The shootings of Charles and Brandon happened within months of each other in 2019. No trial date has been set for the Brandon Boudreaux trial.

In Idaho, Vallow Daybell was found guilty of killing Tylee Ryan and Joshua "JJ" Vallow. She was also found guilty of her role in the death of Tammy Daybell, Chad Daybell's first wife. Vallow Daybell was sentenced to life in prison in Idaho.

Chad Daybell was found guilty of killing JJ Vallow, Tylee Ryan and Tammy Daybell. He was sentenced to death.

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