THE COST OF JUSTICE

The public cost of pursuing two of Los Angeles County’s most celebrated criminal cases--the McMartin Preschool and Night Stalker cases--has climbed to nearly $12.5 million, according to a report issued by the county auditor-controller. The investigative and courtroom costs to taxpayers in the McMartin child molestation case, which is now expected to last well into the year, totaled nearly $11.1 million through last November. Another $1.3 million in public funds has been spent on the Night Stalker murder case, in which a jury just this week began hearing evidence against Richard Ramirez.

McMARTIN NIGHT PRESCHOOL STALKER AMOUNT SPENT ON CASE CASE (7/83-11/88) (8/85-11/88) Court-appointed experts and attorneys $4,990,392 District attorney 3,153,511 $551,060 Los Angeles Municipal Court 594,321 97,679 Marshal 121,837 31,060 Public defender 174,188 14,652 Sheriff 1,794,692 549,794 Superior Court 263,011 57,591 TOTAL $11,091,952 $1,301,836