Attorney weighs in on Lori Vallow Daybell’s exclusive interview ahead of trial
PHOENIX (AZFamily) — In a True Crime Arizona exclusive, Lori Valley Daybell is speaking out ahead of her trial in Maricopa County, which is scheduled to begin on Monday.
So-called “Doomsday Mom,” Vallow Daybell, has already been convicted in Idaho of conspiracy to murder her children, Tylee Ryan and J.J. Vallow, and her husband’s first wife, Tammy Daybell. She’s already set to spend the rest of her life behind bars without the possibility of parole.
Vallow Daybell will now represent herself in a murder conspiracy trial in the death of her fourth husband, Charles Valley, in 2019 after he was shot to death by Vallow Daybell’s brother, Alex Cox, in Chandler.
In the exclusive interview, Vallow Daybell says she is opting to act as her own attorney because she desires a speedy trial and believes she knows her case better than any attorney can learn in a short period.
“I think her biggest challenge is going to be asking good questions and then being responsive to the witnesses,” explained Criminal Defense Attorney Russ Richelsoph. He is a criminal defense attorney in Arizona with no connection to this case.
Vallow Daybell will have a legal team working with her, including a paralegal and advisory counsel. Vallow Daybell told True Crime Arizona that she has not decided at this point whether she will take the stand or not. One thing in the wide-ranging interview Richelsoph took away was the questions she did not answer on her legal team’s advice, which he says could give an indication of how she will act as her own attorney on trial.
“She’s able to limit herself, like when her legal team says, ‘Hey, you shouldn’t answer this question,’ she stops, and she doesn’t answer the question, so she is taking their advice. It appears that she’s cooperating with them. It appears she has a collegial relationship with her advisory council,” said Richelsoph.
Earlier this week, the 16-person jury for the murder conspiracy trial was selected. The jury is made up of 13 men and three women, with four of them being alternate jurors. The alternates will be picked randomly.
Opening statements in the trial are set to begin at 10:30 a.m. on Monday.
“It’ll be interesting to hear what she has to say. Is she going to present a specific defense in her opening statement, or is she going to limit her opening statement to reasonable doubt,” said Richelsoph.
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