Harringtons relish getting close to accused killer of their daughter

The parents of a Virginia Tech student mysteriously killed nearly six years ago got their closest encounter yet with the man now charged with murdering their daughter. In a cramped Albemarle County courtroom on Wednesday, the parents of Morgan Harrington sat close enough to touch Jesse L. Matthew Jr.

At the arraignment, a day after the indictments for killing Harrington, a judge assigned Matthew the same legal team that represents him in next summer's murder trial over the death of University of Virginia student Hannah Graham. What was unusual was the departure of the man in manacles.

Because the courtroom had no special prisoner's exit, Matthew had to walk within inches of the parents of his alleged victim; yet Morgan's father, Dan Harrington, relished that opportunity.

"I don't want to be separated; I want him to know that we are present, and we've been present for six years, and we're going to be present for the months to come."

Likewise, Gil Harrington showed no sign of flinching.

"I wanted him to see, for all intents and purposes, this is the face of justice."

Although he recently pleaded guilty to attempted murder and rape in a Fairfax case, Matthew has pleaded not guilty to killing Graham. He returns to court September 30th for hearings in both the Graham case and now the Harrington case. For WCVE News, Hawes Spencer in Albemarle.

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