The Associated Press

GREAT BEND – The suspect in the death of a 14-year-old Great Bend girl has asked a judge to pay jurors at his upcoming trial their current wages and reimburse those with small children for day care.

The defense request was filed Wednesday in Barton County for the capital murder trial of Adam Longoria. The 37-year-old Great Bend man is charged with killing Alicia DeBolt, whose charred body was found in August 2010 at the asphalt plant where Longoria worked.

His attorneys argued that wage earners and caregivers often are granted hardship requests excusing them from the jury pool. The defense argues jurors who have experienced the same financial circumstances understand the predicament of people like Longoria and may be especially well suited to judge him.

No trial date has been set.

Alicia DeBolt and her family are former Hays residents.