Defense counsel for accused child murderer Alyssa Bustamante is asking for her clothes and other personal affects, but the prosecution holds out.

Defense Attorney Charles Moreland (left) and Cole County Prosecutor Mark Richardson (right) discuss Bustamante's personal effects at a status hearing. (Photo by Stephen Brooks)

Defense attorneys for Alyssa Bustamante, the central Missouri teen accused of killing 9-year-old Elizabeth Olten, are asking for bags of her clothes, makeup, and a stack of her letters and cards.

Bustamante lawyer Charles Moreland tells the judge there’s no reason much of Bustamante’s possessions taken in for evidence, such as letters and cards from her father, have no bearing on the case. He says she’ll need the clothes for the upcoming trial. But prosecutor Mark Richardson says anything with Bustamante’s writings need to be held.

Defense Attorney Charles Moreland says she’ll need her clothes for the upcoming trial, and that Christmas cards, birthday cards and other correspondence with her father are not relevant to the case.

Murder victim Elizabeth Olten's family attends the hearing, wearing t-shirts in her memory. (Photo by Stephen Brooks)

Prosecutor Mark Richardson disagrees, saying anything with Bustamante’s writing needs to be held for evidence. Cole County Judge Pat Joyce asked him to make copies and turn them over in 60 days.

The defense has asked previously to have their own experts watch forensics experts conduct tests on DNA samples collected from the scene, but the prosecutor says many of them have already been consumed from testing. Judge Joyce said if there were any samples left over from future testing, they would need to be held for the defense’s own expert.

Bustamante was 15 when she led authorities to a grave holding the body of 9-year-old Elizabeth Olten, who died from stab wounds, strangulation and a slashed throat.

Olten’s family members were in the court room. They’ve appeared at every hearing since her death wearing t-shirts with Elizabeth’s picture on them.

Jessica Machetta reports [Mp3, 1:22 min.]