MEDICINE HAT, Alta. — Reporters and other members of the public won't be banned from the courtroom during the first week of a 13-year-old girl's trial on charges that she murdered her parents and little brother.

Justice Scott Brooker of Court of Queen's Bench in Medicine Hat says the defence failed to prove that a ban was needed during this week's hearing, which is being held to determine what evidence should be permitted at the trial itself.

The defence had argued that allowing the public to hear some of the evidence while the jury was not there could lead to the information ending up on the Internet or reported by foreign media _ thereby prejudicing the girl's right to a fair trial.

But the judge agreed with lawyers for several news outlets that the defence's concern was merely speculative.

The girl, who cannot be identified because of her age, has pleaded not guilty to three counts of first-degree murder.

Her co-accused and boyfriend at the time, 24-year-old Jeremy Steinke, faces the same charges and goes to trial at a later date.