BROWN COUNTY, WI (WTAQ) – A Brown County judge has ruled what evidence will be allowed at George Burch’s February murder trial for the May 2016 death of Nicole VanderHeyden.
Burch will have to take the stand before accusing VanderHeyden’s boyfriend Douglass Detrie.
The defense will be allowed to present evidence about Detrie and VanderHeyden’s text conversations from the night of her death and claims Detrie used drugs that night.
Burch’s team will not be able to discuss Detrie’s online activity, Detrie’s relationships with other women, or details pertaining to a separate case Detrie has been charged in since VanderHeyden’s death.
In addition, the judge has denied the state’s motion to introduce evidence of a previous domestic violence incident between Burch and his estranged wife.
The trial is set to begin February 16.
