Local News in Brief : Prospective Stalker Jurors Face Bias Quiz
The 123 prospective jurors remaining in the impending Night Stalker trial will be questioned today about their possible racial bias against Latinos.
Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Michael A. Tynan agreed to conduct the questioning at the request of Daniel Hernandez, the San Jose-based attorney who represents defendant Richard Ramirez.
The eleventh-hour motion was not opposed by prosecutors. Deputy Dist. Atty. Alan Yochelson said, “It was not an unreasonable request.”
The judge noted that the issue of potential racial bias is “an area of legitimate concern.”
Defense attorneys argued earlier that the jury pool selection process unfairly excluded Latinos, but Tynan ruled that testimony did not support the contention.
The trial, which may last as long as two years, is scheduled to begin Jan. 17.
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