Plea Bargain Talks in Brando Case Break Down
Behind-the-scenes plea bargain negotiations in the Christian Brando murder case have broken down, lawyers on both sides said Thursday, and a judge scheduled the trial to begin Nov. 5.
“Nobody’s talking settlement now,” Deputy Dist. Atty. Bill Clark told reporters after a brief hearing in Santa Monica Superior Court. Both sides indicated last week that they were discussing a possible manslaughter plea, even before it became apparent that Brando’s sister, Cheyenne, could not be forced to return from Tahiti to testify.
Clark said an offer by defense lawyer Robert Shapiro was not accepted. “I can tell you this, whatever he’s offered we’ve turned down,” he said.
Shapiro said it appears likely that the case will go to trial, although he said he remains open to a negotiated settlement.
Superior Court Judge Robert Thomas ordered 250 prospective jurors to report, explaining that most will be excused for hardship and publicity reasons.
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