MOBILE, Ala. (WALA) – A federal judge has denied a request by a Baldwin County woman to be tried separately from two of her sisters in a murder-for-hire conspiracy case. Judy Owen had argued that it would be unfair for her stand trial at the same time as sisters Sandra Grimes and Mitzy Gaye Smith. Her attorney noted that Grimes made statements to investigators following her arrest that implicate Owen. The defense argued that since Grimes cannot be compelled to testify at her own trial, Owen’s lawyer would not be able to cross-examine her about those statements.