Defense for man accused of killing 3 young sons asks court to remove death penalty option

The man charged with murdering his three small sons should be excluded from the death penalty if convicted “due to serious mental illness at the time of (the) offense,” his lawyers contend in a new motion.

Chad Doerman, 32, recently pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to gunning down his children - Clayton, 7; Hunter, 4 and Chase, 3 - at their Monroe Township home last summer.

The boys’ mother, 34, also was shot in her hand.

In light of the new motion, a hearing will be held at 1 p.m. Friday in Clermont County Common Pleas Court.

Doerman’s lawyers are required to give the court an expert’s report in support of their motion no later than June 3, court records show.

More: 'I ain't gonna hurt nobody,' father tells deputies after executing three young sons

Doerman faces nine counts of aggravated murder and other charges of kidnapping and felonious assault in a total 21-count indictment.

The judge threw out Doerman’s confession in March after determining he was not properly advised of his Miranda rights.

Clermont County Prosecutor Mark Tekulve has sought the death penalty for Doerman since Day 1.

“This is a death penalty case and my goal is to have this man executed for slaughtering these three little boys,” Tekulve said in a court appearance shortly after Doerman’s arrest.

His trial is set for July 8. Doerman remains locked up at the Clermont County Jail.

Enquirer media partner Fox 19 provided this report.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Chad Doerman's lawyers death penalty be dropped in killing of 3 sons