Prosecutors in Bombings Will Not Ask Death Penalty

Prosecutors have disclosed they will not seek the death penalty for a North Hollywood film and television makeup man charged in the February bombing deaths of two Los Angeles police demolition experts.

Donald Lee Morse, 37, is accused of first-degree murder in the deaths of Los Angeles Police Detective Arleigh McCree, 46, commander of the department’s bomb squad, and Officer Ron Ball, 43. They were killed Feb. 8 while trying to dismantle a pipe bomb found in the garage of Morse’s home.

Deputy Dist. Atty. Sterling Norris said Friday that Morse still faces up to life in prison without the possibility of parole if he is convicted of the charges. Norris declined to explain why prosecutors decided not to seek the death penalty. The charges include two “special circumstances” that would make Morse eligible for the death penalty if convicted--that more than one person was killed and that a bomb was used.

Norris would say only that the decision came after careful evaluation. He said police were consulted before the disclosure, which came in a letter to Morse’s attorney.

Morse’s attorney, Pierpont M. Laidley, said he did not place much importance on the announcement. Laidley said he is in a “battle to vindicate my client” and is looking into the possibility that someone else placed the bombs in the garage with the intent of harming Morse.