Cabot Slaying : New Defense Readies Case for Retrial

New attorneys for Timothy Scott Roman, who is accused of bludgeoning to death his actress mother, Susan Cabot, appeared in court Thursday to begin preparations for a new trial.

Van Nuys Superior Court Judge Darlene Schempp granted Roman a mistrial last month after his controversial attorney, Chester Leo Smith, 67, suffered a heart attack.

Attorneys Richard P. Lasting and Michael White, who were hired by Roman’s family, appeared at a hearing Thursday to formally take over the case. Roman was also present but did not speak during the brief proceeding.

The 25-year-old former art student faces a possible life term in prison if convicted of first-degree murder in the Dec. 10, 1986, slaying of his 59-year-old mother, a leading lady in 1950s action movies.

“We hope to try the matter as soon as possible . . . by late August or September,” Lasting said outside the courtroom.

Declined Comment

The attorney, however, declined to comment on the case itself or on Smith’s performance in the earlier trial. “What he did and didn’t do is obviously in the past,” Lasting said.

Smith stunned prosecutors at one point in the trial when he revealed to jurors during direct examination of a police officer that Roman had confessed to slaying his mother after the two had argued.

Detective Philip Quartararo testified that Roman told police that he hit his mother on the head with a barbell after she came at him with a scalpel.

Deputy Dist. Atty. Bradford E. Stone said the confession was not used by the prosecution because it was made after the defendant had asked to speak with an attorney, which under court rulings made it inadmissible.

Roman was ordered to return to court July 17 when a new trial date will be set.