UPDATE: Judge denies defense bid to prevent release of Otieno’s body

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — A Virginia judge has denied a request from attorneys for one of seven sheriff’s deputies charged in the death of a mental patient to prevent the man’s body from being released until they decide whether to seek an independent autopsy.

Dinwiddie Circuit Court Joseph Teefey Jr. ruled Wednesday that defense attorneys could instead ask for an independent examiner to be present during the autopsy currently being performed by the state medical examiner’s office.

Irvo Otieno died March 6 while he was being admitted to Central State Hospital. A prosecutor has said that Otieno was suffocated to death, but an autopsy has not yet been completed. Video shows the deputies and hospital employees pinning Otieno to the floor for more than 10 minutes.