The Region : Belli Talks With Ramirez

Noted San Francisco lawyer Melvin Belli said he met with Night Stalker suspect Richard Ramirez but cannot take on the case because of a heavy schedule. Belli said he was “ashamed I had to tell him I couldn’t take it, because it’s a case I certainly would like to take.” The attorney said he met with Ramirez at Los Angeles County Jail 10 days ago at the request of the suspect’s sister, Rosa Flores, but concluded that he would be tied up for two years if he took the case. Flores claimed in a television interview that her brother wanted to plead guilty to some of the numerous felony charges against him but that Deputy Public Defender Allen Adashek kept him from appearing at an arraignment Friday. Adashek has declined to comment. A gag order has been imposed by Los Angeles Municipal Judge Elva R. Soper.