EDMONTON – A Canadian man accused of killing his wife in North Carolina is more concerned about being away from his daughters than his arrest, his lawyer said Tuesday.
"He is very sad," said Seth Blum, one of the lawyers representing Brad Cooper.
"He is certainly concerned for what's happening to him, but his greatest concern is that he is not with his daughters."
On Monday, Cooper was indicted and charged with first-degree murder in the death of his wife, Nancy Cooper, a former Edmonton resident.
Brad Cooper is also originally from Alberta.
A first-degree murder conviction can result in the death penalty in North Carolina.
Last week, a judge awarded temporary custody of the couple's daughters, who are four and two years old, to Nancy Cooper's relatives in Edmonton. Brad Cooper argued the girls should remain in his custody.
Nancy Cooper, 34, was found dead in a drainage ditch near her home in Cary, N.C., on July 14.
Two days earlier, she had been reported missing after she vanished while jogging.
An autopsy concluded she was likely strangled.
During the investigation, her husband declared his innocence.
Blum, who has spoken to Cooper since his arrest, said that has not changed.
"He maintains that he had nothing to do with the death of his wife," Blum said.
"From Day 1, he has been very clear that he had nothing to do with his wife's murder and he has not wavered on that."
Cooper is being held in the Wake County Prison in North Carolina without bail.
The Coopers moved from Alberta to Cary, a suburb of Raleigh, eight years ago so Brad could start a new job.
According to a police affidavit, Nancy Cooper wanted to separate from her husband and the couple had an argument a week before she disappeared.
Blum said that since Brad Cooper has now been charged, he looks forward to reviewing the state's case against him.
"We've been told very little, despite asking repeatedly," Blum said. "We look forward to the opportunity to evaluate everything and see if there is a case against him."
Brad Cooper made a brief court appearance in North Carolina Tuesday, where he requested a court-appointed attorney because he cannot afford one himself.
The court agreed to appoint Howard Kurtz as the lead attorney. Kurtz and Blum had previously represented Brad Cooper during the murder investigation.
His next court appearance has not been set.
North Carolina has not put anyone to death since 2006, when four prisoners were executed.
rcormier@thejournal.canwest.com
- ‘Shock and disbelief’ after Manitoba school trustee’s Indigenous comments
- Canadian man dies during Texas Ironman event. His widow wants answers as to why
- Several baby products have been recalled by Health Canada. Here’s the list
- ‘Sciatica was gone’: hospital performs robot-assisted spinal surgery in Canadian first
Comments