An article in the Orange County Register tells the story of a Santa Ana man who is defending himself in an upcoming death penalty trial. The man has entered a plea of not guilty by reason of insanity to four of five murder charges lodged against him. He denies committing a fifth murder in June 1979 that involved the abduction and slaying of a 12-year-old girl.
Oddly enough, the suspect has been tried twice in Orange County Superior Court for the 12-year-old girl’s murder, and twice he was convicted and sentenced to death. However, both convictions were reversed on appeal. According to prosecutors, before a third trial could commence, the man was linked by DNA and other evidence to four sex-slayings of women in Los Angeles County in the late 1970s.
The four murders have been combined with the young girl’s murder into one trial in Orange County. The trial is tentatively scheduled to get under way on Nov. 30 before Superior Court Judge Francisco Briseno. The accused man has filed a severance motion and has entered the insanity pleas in the four Los Angeles murder cases.
It is never advisable to represent yourself in criminal matters. Doing so in murder cases is a sure recipe for disaster. Knowing the elements of each crime that the prosecutor must prove is critical when you are accused of a serious crime. If you represent yourself or retain the services of an inexperienced lawyer, you will not be familiar with all of the legal defenses to these crimes and you could find yourself doing time in prison for a crime that you did not actually commit. At Wallin and Klarich, we pride ourselves in working together as a team so we are able to get the best results possible in all of our serious felony cases.
The California violent crime attorneys at Wallin & Klarich, have seen firsthand how stressful legal matters can be for our clients and their loved ones. We are committed to being available to our clients at all times — 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. If you or someone you love is facing homicide or other violent crime charges in Southern California, you should call Wallin & Klarich today for a free evaluation of your case. Call 1-888-749-0034 or fill out our online consultation form to get in contact with a legal professional today. We will be there when you call.
Source:http://www.ocregister.com/news/alcala-217391-four-angeles.html
