Change of Venue Formally Ordered in Beating Case
Following the wishes of an appeals court, a Superior Court judge on Tuesday formally ordered a change of venue in the case of four Los Angeles Police officers charged in the beating of motorist Rodney G. King.
The order by Superior Court Judge Gary Klausner clears the way for state judicial officials to select other counties as possible sites for the trial. It comes after a ruling last month by the 2nd District Court of Appeal, which cited intense political fallout over the King beating in ordering the case moved out of Los Angeles County.
Klausner said he believes it will take about a week for the State Judicial Council to provide him with a list of several counties that are available and have the facilities to host the trial. He ordered lawyers for both sides back to court on Aug. 22. “We know that we’re going, but we don’t know where,” defense attorney John Barnett said afterward.
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