The State only played the section of the 2014 interrogation pertaining to his whereabouts on the 6th.
Judge was mistaken in that he thought they'd played sections pertaining to the 4th and the 6th.
I think that might be where the State's issue lies, but I could be wrong. My guess is the defence wants to bring in the whole of 2014 tape because otherwise the trial ends without an 'official' word from Merritt about his whereabouts on the 4th. All there is from him about the 4th is the 2019 jailhouse tape.
I'm confused about what they were discussing with the judge about conversations brought in allowing them to do this, maybe it is that the State brought in the conversation through the glass?
IMO
You are correct about the 4th/6th thing
I might have missed this recording when i was travelling - do you know what day it was?
I had assumed they were talking about the tape they played in the prosecution opening - but you are correct - it is a tape about where he was in the 6th
So filling in the blanks - maybe this became admissible via her testimony