Evidence of Ross Harris' alleged infidelity can be used in trial, judge rules

COBB COUNTY, Ga. — A Cobb County judge has ruled that evidence of the marital status and alleged infidelity of a man accused of leaving his son in the back of a hot car to die can be used at trial, Channel 2 Action News has learned.

Justin Ross Harris, 33, is charged with felony murder and first-degree cruelty to children after his son, Cooper, was left in the back of a hot SUV and died in July 2014. %

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At a hearing Monday, a judge said evidence of Harris’ alleged infidelity, research on weather and its effects, the family’s financial status and Harris’ alleged research into law can all be used in the trial against Harris, which is set to begin next month.

Harris’ attorneys have been trying to exclude evidence claiming that

and may have been a reason behind his son’s death.

The judge has since ruled that sexually explicit text messages between Harris and several girls can be admissible in court as well.

A grand jury indicted Harris earlier this month on more charges, including sexual exploitation of a minor. %

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Cobb County District Attorney Vic Reynolds said the new charges stemmed from “advances in electronic forensic analysis in conjunction with recent interviews of newly discovered victims.”

The eight-count indictment includes two counts of sexual exploitation of children and six of disseminating harmful material to a minor.

Information pertaining to a life insurance policy on Cooper Harris will not be admissible, but the judge said Monday that the state can bring up that issue during trial.

Cox Media Group