Defense Attorneys in Night Stalker Case Seek Delay
Attorneys defending the man accused of the Night Stalker slayings sought a three-month delay to give them time to prepare their case, but a prosecutor said he would oppose the postponement.
“Not to grant us a delay would be a violation of our client’s right to have effective counsel,” said Daniel Hernandez, one of those defending Richard Ramirez, 26.
He filed the request for the delay Wednesday.
The drifter from El Paso, Tex., is charged with 14 murders and 31 other felonies in Los Angeles County in a series of grisly night-time attacks that terrorized Southern Californians last summer.
His Superior Court trial is scheduled to begin Sept. 2, but Hernandez said that would not give him and co-counsel Arturo Hernandez, no relation, time to finish research necessary to the defense.
“In most capital cases, the defense is given far more time than we have,” said Daniel Hernandez.
Deputy Dist. Atty. P. Philip Halpin said he would oppose the request.
Hernandez said the attorneys have begun serving subpoenas on news organizations in an effort to have the case moved from Los Angeles.
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