Attorneys claim Cedar Rapids police violated rights of man accused in fatal stabbing

CEDAR RAPIDS - A 32-year-old Cedar Rapids man accused of fatally stabbing a woman last year was found competent to stand trial, but his May trial will be reset because attorneys claim his rights were violated during a police interview and want to keep any statements, including a 'confession,” out of the trial.

According to a motion filed last week, Bobbie Little told police he didn't want to answer questions during two separate interviews in 2014. Little also asked for an attorney during both interviews, but investigators continued to ask him questions.

Little is charged with first-degree murder and second-degree theft. He is accused of killing Shanna Beyhl, 37, in her Cedar Rapids apartment April 4, 2014, according to a criminal complaint. He is also accused of trading or giving away items belonging to Beyhl after her death.

According to an autopsy report, Beyhl was stabbed multiple times in the neck and abdomen.

In the motion, Little's attorneys also ask the court to toss out any evidence resulting from a search warrant, including Little's DNA and clothing marked with Beyhl's blood.

In the April 6 interview after being arrested for theft, Little asked for an attorney after an investigator read him his Miranda rights, which he signed. He repeated the request about an hour and a half later, according to the motion. The investigators continued the interview another 20 minutes.

In the June 5 interview, Little, still in jail on the theft charge, was interviewed again by police, this time for the fatal stabbing of Beyhl, according to the motion. Little again said he wanted his attorney and didn't want to talk. He said the investigators were confusing him and he couldn't keep up with their questioning.

According to the motion, Little has suffered from 'severe and substantial mental issues his entire life," including bipolar affective disorder, auditory hallucinations and borderline intelligence. His mental impairments prevented him from understanding and waiving his rights, the motion contends.

His attorneys claim the evidence from the search can't be used at trial because the warrant was obtained based on his statements during the illegal questioning.

Little was sent to the Iowa Medical and Classification Center in Coralville and was evaluated, as requested by his attorneys, but he was found competent to stand trial in December.

Assistant Linn County Attorney Nic Scott said Little's trial, now set for May 18, will have to be reset because a hearing on the motion to suppress is set for June 11.