Vista

Municipal Court Judge Luther Leeger closed the preliminary hearing of Laura Troiani and five Marines accused of killing her husband in a murder-for-money plot during the Monday testimony of two witnesses. But the judge put off a decision whether the entire preliminary hearing should be closed to the press and public. Leeger has said that some witnesses should not testify in public because their statements might prejudice potential jurors and thus jeopardize the six defendants’ right to a fair trial. Defense attorneys, however, have asked that the entire preliminary hearing be conducted privately.