San Diego
The 4th District Court of Appeal has approved the appointment of an attorney to represent former California Highway Patrol Officer Craig Peyer in an appeal of his murder conviction.
Christopher J. Schatz, a partner with the San Diego firm Lightner and Castro, was formally approved by the court Monday on the recommendation of Appellate Defenders Inc., which will provide two lawyers--Elaine Alexander and Jerry Wallingford--to assist with the appeal.
Schatz said Thursday that he does not expect to file an opening brief before March.
Peyer was convicted in June of the murder of San Diego State University student Cara Knott, whose strangled body was found in a ravine Dec. 28, 1986. He is in prison in San Luis Obispo, serving a sentence of 25 years to life.
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