Derek Colson’s defense attorneys dealt a blow to the prosecution team Thursday when the judge granted their motion to suppress key statements Colson made the night of his arrest.

Superior Court Judge Yvonne Evans’ decision will prevent prosecutors from using three statements in Colson’s murder trial.

He is accused of killing two women, Betsy Dickens and Cynthia Lail, and charged with the attempted murder of Beverly Lineberger, all in spring 2004.

“We are pleased with the judge’s ruling,” said Colson’s attorney, Lisa Andrew Dubs, in a statement released Thursday afternoon.

Neither Dubs nor Colson’s other attorney, Robert Campbell, would provide further comment. The District Attorney’s Office also declined to comment on the still open case.

The suppressed statements include a conversation Colson had with Hickory police officer Jeff Young and a special agent with the Federal Bureau of Investigation that was recorded in a police summary. The interview was conducted on March 23, 2006, the night of Colson’s arrest.  Also included are a comment by Colson, “I’ve already said too much,” that he made after he was read some of his Miranda rights and a conversation with a sheriff’s deputy in jail after he waived his Miranda rights.

Calls to Hickory Police Chief Tom Adkins were not returned.

Evans cited several reasons she granted the motion to suppress the statements. One key reason was the fact that Colson was not read all of his Miranda rights. She also noted that the police summary of Colson’s interview prior to his arrest was not verbatim, which makes it difficult to determine exactly what the defendant said.

Court adjourned early, before attorneys began interviewing potential jurors. All of the people called for jury duty were sent home.

Colson’s trial is scheduled to continue Friday at 9:30 a.m.