THE RANDY KRAFT TRIAL WEEK 18*

Randy Steven Kraft, charged with murdering 16 men, is on trial in Orange County Superior Court in what some legal experts say will be the biggest and costliest case in California history.

LAST WEEK The defense rested its case without having Kraft take the stand. His attorneys once again tried to get Judge Donald A. McCartin to agree to limit cross-examination by prosecutors so Kraft would only have to discuss five of the 16 murders in the charges. But the judge refused to make such an agreement without first hearing what Kraft had to say.

THE DEFENSE ‘Mr. Kraft very much wanted to defend himself, but the judge’s ruling precluded that. ‘

--Kraft attorney C. Thomas McDonald

THE PROSECUTION ‘That’s life. ‘

--Deputy Dist. Atty. Thomas M. Goethals, to the defense argument that the ruling would prevent the world from hearing Kraft’s testimony.

NUMBER OF WITNESSES Last Week: 19.

To Date: 276.

ITEMS LOGGED AS POSSIBLE EVIDENCE Last week: 26.

To Date: 1,202.

THIS WEEK The prosecution is scheduled to complete its rebuttal. The judge has told jurors that closing arguments should be scheduled for next week. The trial still includes a day or two for lawyers and the judge to discuss jury instructions and take care of last-minute defense motions.

* Jury selection and legal motions began July 25, 1988, and testimony began Sept. 5. The trial recessed for about 2 months at the end of the prosecution’s case.