Freedom for Informants

I have read with interest the three articles (Nov. 5, Dec. 11 and Dec. 16 “Scandal Over Jail Informants Forces Retrial”) on informants and the investigation into the conviction of Carlos Vargas, who is serving 29 years to life for the first-degree murder of Mary Ann Torres. The final result leaves me numb, because I see that justice is blind.

Factually, defendant Vargas offered Mary Ann a ride home after entertaining her at a nightclub. He then went out of his way to drop his brother off at his house, at 2 a.m., so he could be alone with Mary Ann. Her beaten, strangled, and sexually assaulted body, with her throat cut, was found in an alley the next morning at 7:30 a.m., a few blocks away from the nightclub.

Defendant Vargas’ jury trial lasted approximately four months. The jury found him guilty of attempted rape and first-degree murder. During the trial, more than 12 witnesses testified for the prosecution and one main witness testified for the defendant. This witness spent two months in jail with defendant Vargas. He testified about all the important facts concerning the murder, which were not known to anyone but Vargas. Yet he claimed his facts came from Cisneros, who knew nothing about the facts of the murder. The testimony of the defendant’s witness provided more important and informative facts than anything Cisneros had to say.

Additionally, it is disheartening and alarming that no one has mentioned or seemed to consider the impact upon the victim in this case. I am referring to Mary Ann Torres, her 4-year-old son, and her family. Their views on the death of Mary Ann, the fairness of this review or a new trial for her murderer have not been addressed. This young woman was brutally slain. Yet, not one word has been expressed about justice for her.

Defendant Vargas received a fair trial and was convicted, based upon overwhelming circumstantial evidence, which is legally just as sufficient as direct evidence. The guilty verdict was justice for Mary Ann and her family. Defendant Vargas being allowed a second trial, under these circumstances, a chance he did not give Mary Ann, is truly a travesty of justice, especially when the jury did not rely upon the minimal testimony of Cisneros.

LARRY D. WALLS

Deputy District Attorney

Los Angeles

Walls was the trial prosecutor.