Accused Slayer of 2 San Diego Officers Denied Access to Records
A judge denied a request by attorneys for a Spring Valley man accused of killing two police officers that the San Diego County district attorney’s office turn over all its records on murder cases issued since 1977.
San Diego Superior Court Judge Mack Lovett said he found the request by attorneys for Joselito Cinco, 26, “burdensome and oppressive.”
The hearing followed a suit filed June 4 against the district attorney’s office seeking information on murder cases and those not involving special circumstances allegations--which could lead to the death penalty.
Cinco will go on trial Sept. 22 in Santa Ana, after a change of venue sparked by pretrial publicity. He could face execution if convicted.
He is accused of killing San Diego Police Officer Kimberly Tonahill, 24, and Officer Timothy Ruopp, 31, and of wounding Officer Gary Mitrovich, 26 on Sept. 14, 1984, at the eastern edge of Balboa Park.
Deputy County Counsel Phillip Kossy argued that Cinco’s attorneys had made an identical request during discovery motions and it was denied.
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