Key McMartin Witness Absent

A key prosecution witness who was granted immunity to ensure his further testimony failed to show up today at the McMartin Pre-School molestation trial. Prosecutors said he was taken to a hospital.

Deputy Dist. Atty. Lael S. Rubin reported that the daughter of witness George Freeman told the Los Angeles district attorney’s office that her father had suffered chest pains during the night and awakened coughing up blood. Superior Court Judge William R. Pounders, who had granted immunity to Freeman on Tuesday, expressed concern that the witness’s absence might ultimately lead to the mistrial he sought to avert. The immunity grant was intended to ensure that defense attorneys for Raymond Buckey would have the chance to fully cross-examine the witness.