HEBRON - Convicted killer Aubrey Trail is asking for a new trial.

In Saline County District Court documents filed Wednesday, Trail and his attorneys, Ben and Joe Murray, asked for a new trial claiming "irregularity in the proceedings of the court."

The motion for a new trial had to be filed within 10 days after the verdict in order to preserve the right to appeal.

"The filing of the (new trial) motion is pretty routine," Joe Murray said. "Especially in a case of this significance."

The document lists several reasons why they believe Trail was prevented a fair trial. Murray says the court's decision to allow graphic photographs unfairly prejudiced the jury.

"The number (of photographs the state used) was a bit much," Joe Murray said. "Especially since he plead guilty to the improper disposal (of human remains) charge. So, that was not an issue in front of the jury. We just didn't know if it was absolutely necessary the jury see all of those photographs."

The jury was shown 844 total pieces of evidence through the entire four-week trial.

Another concern cited had to do with Sydney Loofe's mother, Susan. She was the very first witness to testify on June 19. After Susan finished testifying, she was still sequestered by the court. The defense indicated that she may be recalled to testify later on.

If that's the case, witnesses who are sequestered aren't allowed to sit in the courtroom until they've been released by the court. Susan Loofe was not released, but she sat in the front row of the courtroom every day of the trial with the rest of her family.

There are exceptions to the sequestration rule, but being the mother of the victim is not one. The Murrays asked Saline County District Judge Vicky Johnson if it was possible for Mrs. Loofe to not be present in court until she was called back to the witness stand.

That request was swiftly denied. Susan Loofe was never called back to testify after that first day.

"We understand why," Ben Murray said. "I mean, that's the mother of the victim. We understand, but she was seated right in front of the jury. We were concerned on how that might affect the jury."

They also cite the court's denial for a mistrial after Trail sliced his throat front of the jury as an issue. The Murrays said last week, and again on Thursday, that they believed the throat slash on June 24 was "an obstacle that they wouldn't be able to overcome."

The Murrays asked for a mistrial after Trail slashed his throat and shouted out, "Bailey (Boswell) is innocent and I curse you all!"

Their request for a mistrial was denied. Typically, courts will say a mistrial can't be granted if a disruption is caused by the defendant.

"There's case law that says occasionally, something is so unusual, so shocking, you can't fix it by telling the jury to disregard it," Ben Murray said. "You can't fix it with an instruction. I think this obviously rises to that level."

A jury found Trail guilty of first degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder in the death of Sidney Loofe on July 10 in Wilber.

Loofe first went missing on the night of Nov. 15, 2017 when she went on a date with Trail's girlfriend Bailey Boswell in Wilber.

Loofe's remains were found in trash bags nearly three weeks later in rural Clay County in several roadside ditches.

On July 11, Trail waived his right to an aggravating circumstances hearing in front of the jury. Since he's been found guilty of murder in the first degree, the decision on whether or not he gets the death penalty has gone to a three-judge panel.

It could be months before it's known whether or not Trail will be put to death by the state.

As for a new trial, Ben Murray said they'll have a hearing at the Saline County Courthouse to discuss that possibility further. There's no exact timetable for that hearing - they're hoping for September.

The Murrays understand that it's unlikely Trail will be granted a new trial, but they want people to know - they're just doing their job.

"This is what we do for a living," Joe Murray said. "Everybody is entitled to a fair trial, and our job is to make sure the people we represent get a fair trial. We've done the best we can for this man. The odds are stacked against us, but we're going to keep trying."

You can follow Tommy on Twitter @Tommy_NCN.