California IN BRIEF : REDWOOD CITY : Trial Set to Start in String of Killings

Ramon Salcido, the winery worker who allegedly slaughtered his wife, two daughters and four others during a murderous rampage in the wine country in April, 1989, is set to go on trial in Redwood City today, but the case may be delayed for two months. Salcido’s lawyer, public defender Marteen Miller, said he would ask visiting San Mateo Superior Court Judge Reginald Littrell to reset the trial for September. Miller claims his client was illegally extradited from Mexico a few days after the slayings, and said he would argue that Salcido had a brain dysfunction that fueled the rampage in Sonoma County. Trial was moved to San Mateo County in response to a venue change request by Miller.