‘Stalker’ Suspect Gets OK to Exercise Outside Cell

‘Night Stalker’ suspect Richard Ramirez, who is awaiting trial on 14 charges of murder and 54 other felony counts, was granted a court order Friday allowing him to exercise outside his County Jail cell for at least two hours a week.

Los Angeles Municipal Judge Candace E. Cooper agreed to intervene with the Sheriff’s Department, after defense lawyers told her that jailers, apparently concerned with Ramirez’s security, have restricted the suspect to his cell throughout his time in custody.

Cooper’s order came after a largely uneventful discovery hearing covering the progress of the defense and prosecution in sharing the evidence collected by 14 law enforcement agencies in the case, which involves crimes in Los Angeles and Orange counties and San Francisco. Another discovery hearing was set for Dec. 23.

Dressed in a blue jail uniform and restrained by wrist and ankle chains, Ramirez walked into the courtroom and raised his palm to wave to his brother and sister, who were sitting in the front row.

Cooper rejected attempts by defense lawyers to obtain the addresses and phone numbers of witnesses in the case, saying the prosecution need only provide the names. Many of the witnesses, some relatives of the victims, have relocated to different neighborhoods, Deputy Dist. Atty. P. Philip Halpin said.

The judge also reaffirmed her ban of television cameras and radio recorders inside the courtroom during the preliminary hearing.

Outside court, Halpin told reporters that additional pretrial publicity could damage the court proceedings.

“Where are we going to try it--on the moon?” he asked.

The Radio and Television News Assn. of Southern California, composed of Los Angeles area news professionals, has said it will challenge Cooper’s decision before the state Court of Appeal.