Santa Ana : Man Pleads Innocent in Deaths of Wife, Child

A 43-year-old native of Scotland pleaded not guilty Friday to two counts of murder in connection with the slayings of his wife and 13-month-old daughter, who were bludgeoned with a champagne bottle in January.

The plea came during Joseph Peter Lynch’s arraignment on the charges in Central Municipal Court in Santa Ana. Conviction for a double murder could bring the death penalty, prosecutors have said.

Lynch has been held without bail in County Jail since his arrest on Jan. 17.

Helen Lynch, a 35-year-old native of Australia, was found dead on the living room floor of the couple’s Santa Ana condominium, their badly beaten daughter still in her arms at 12:30 a.m. on Jan. 17. Natalie Alexandra Lynch, who suffered massive skull fractures, was declared brain-dead 2 days later.

According to family members, Lynch had been hospitalized for mental illness more than 2 years ago and had been on lithium to treat his manic-depression up until before the murder.

His wife, who had indicated that his mental illness had returned, had sought an appointment with his psychiatrist the day before her death. Lynch, who apparently had stopped taking his medication, was given an appointment for the following day--the afternoon of Jan. 17, according to the psychiatrist.

Lynch has two surviving daughters. They were in another part of the home when the attack occurred.

A preliminary hearing was scheduled for April 21 in Central Municipal Court.