Judge to rule on BDSM expert witness in Missouri sex slave case

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) - A federal judge says he doesn't think Missouri's Western District is the right place to define what is considered normal within the kinky sex community.

U.S. District Judge Dean Whipple on Thursday heard arguments from prosecutors and defense attorneys for a southwest Missouri couple accused of keeping a woman as a sex slave for several years.

Lawyers for 45-year-old Edward Bagley and 47-year-old Marilyn Bagley want to bring an expert witness to the couple's trial in February to explain about the bondage, dominance, sadism and masochism lifestyle.

Whipple was surprised when told evidence in the case includes photographs. He was even more taken aback when defense attorney Susan Dill told him her expert witness takes part in BDSM activities.

The judge said he needed to do more research before ruling.