YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio - In less than two weeks the man accused of setting the fatal fire that killed 10-year-old Corinne Gump and her grandparents will go on trial.

A hearing was held to determine if statements that Robert Seman made to police will be thrown out.

Robert Seman's death penalty case is set for September 12th.

Today, Mahoning County Common Pleas Court Judge Maureen Sweeney began considering whether two videotaped statements made to police by Seman will be allowed as evidence at his trial.

Youngstown Police Detective-Sergeant Dave Sweeney testified that Seman agreed to talk to police without an attorney present.

He also testified briefly about a half-a-dozen search warrants in the case, including one for Seman's DNA.

Seman is accused of setting the fire that killed 10-year-old Corinne Gump and her grandparents, William and Judith Schmidt back on March 30th of last year.

The fatal fire happened on the very day Seman was set to go on trial for allegedly raping the 10-year-old girl.

Judge Sweeney still has to rule on whether the rape allegations can even be mentioned as part of the trial and the motive in the murder case.

And the defense has now asked for a hearing on a change of venue.

Seman's attorneys want to move the trial out of the area, because of all the pre-trial publicity.

In a court filing made today defense attorneys Thomas Zena and Lynn Maro said quote, "17-months after the Powersway fire, the outrage against Robert Seman remains as intense as it was the first day."

Many comments (on news and social media web sites) call for the Defendants "murder" or immediate execution.