Vista

The attorney for David Scott Harrison, accused in the slaying of his ex-wife, was found in contempt of court on Monday and fined $250 after he missed the morning session of the trial.

Alan May, an Orange County attorney, arrived at the Vista courthouse at noon, two hours after the session was to begin.

May’s explanation for the delay was cut short by Superior Court Judge David B. Moon Jr., who pounded his fingers on the bench and said, “I’m asking you a simple question. Why were you not here at 10 o’clock?”

May said one of his cars was in the shop for repairs and a second had been destroyed in an accident on Saturday, leaving him with only his 1973 MG Midget. May said he realized the car was not registered, so he stopped at the Department of Motor Vehicles on the way to court.

“I didn’t want to violate the law and drive an unregistered car,” May said.

“Why didn’t you just rent a car or borrow a friend’s car?” Moon asked. “Your explanation for not appearing here is not sufficient.”

The judge also noted that, during the 12-day preliminary hearing in which May’s client was bound over for trial, the attorney was late 11 times.

Harrison is charged with killing his former wife, Anne Jenkins, two years ago--a month after the San Marcos woman and her new husband won $727,000 in the state lottery.

The prosecution is expected to wrap up its case on Wednesday.