Local News in Brief : Death Sentence Ruled Out
A judge’s ruling Tuesday canceled out a possible death sentence for a former college professor accused of shooting to death a male prostitute and dismembering his body with a chain saw.
Superior Court Judge John Reid dismissed the only remaining special circumstance allegation--murder committed during a robbery--against former Cal State Fresno professor Max Bernard Franc, 57, of West Hollywood.
Under California law, “special circumstances” must be present to qualify a defendant for a death sentence.
Reid ruled that there was insufficient evidence to show that Franc robbed the victim, Tracy Nute, 18.
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