Stalker Judge Orders Jury to Go On, Triggering Blast : Ramirez Voices an ‘Objection’

The “Night Stalker” murder case judge ordered the troubled jury deliberations to resume today after the foreman reported that the panel had “put behind them” the murder of a juror and the suicide of her boyfriend.

Richard Ramirez, the drifter charged with 13 murders and 30 felonies, shouted out an objection when the judge indicated that he will allow the panel to return to its task with an alternate replacing the dead juror.

“I have an objection,” shouted Ramirez, using an obscenity to indicate that he believed the decision was wrong.

Comment Ignored

Superior Court Judge Michael A. Tynan ignored Ramirez’s comment and overruled motions by his attorneys, who had asked for at least a week’s delay in the talks to allow jurors time to recover from their grief. There was no motion for mistrial.

The judge called the jury foreman into the courtroom and asked whether jurors were able to proceed.

“I feel it’s somewhat tranquil,” the foreman said. “Everyone appears to have put it behind them.”

The judge then summoned all of the jurors and told them to remember that the killing of Phyllis Singletary, found shot Monday, had no relation to the trial.

“We must get on with the task that life has given us,” he told them. “ . . . No matter how deeply you feel about her death, it is in no way connected to the case of Richard Ramirez.”

Some jurors wept Tuesday when they were told about the death of the 30-year-old woman, who had sat beside them at the trial for the last year.

After Tynan sent them home, word came that Singletary’s live-in boyfriend, James Cecil Melton, 51, had taken his own life. Authorities said Melton left a note admitting that he had killed Singletary in a domestic dispute at the home they shared in Carson.

Deliberations Favored

The prosecutor, Deputy District Atty. Phil Halpin, had wanted the judge to order deliberations resumed today.

Daniel V. Hernandez, the chief lawyer for Ramirez, had said he might ask for a mistrial. Hernandez said jurors’ objectivity may be tainted because one of their colleagues died in a similar manner to those slain by the “Night Stalker.” Singletary was shot and beaten.

The murder-suicide came only three days after another juror had been replaced by an alternate for sleeping during deliberations. That meant that the jurors who had been deliberating for 13 days had to start their talks all over again. Now they will have to start for a third time.

The alternate who was chosen to replace Singletary appeared upset when her name was called and sat trembling in her chair rather than moving into the jury box.

Tynan said he understood the jury’s emotions: “I think we have all been terribly affected.” But he said the killing was unrelated to the Ramirez case and expressed the hope that panelists could complete their job.

“I do not mean to be callous,” he said, “but we have business to do.”

Tynan said he would inform jurors of Singletary’s funeral arrangements and would allow them to attend if the services are in Los Angeles.