Long Beach : Protests Disrupt Hearing in Riot Shooting Case
A Long Beach Municipal Court hearing for seven defendants charged in the riot-related shooting death of motorcyclist Matt Haines was interrupted twice Monday when people in the audience and one defendant protested.
The man prosecutors believe pulled the trigger on Haines, 24-year-old Larry Williams, jumped to his feet, shouting, “that’s not true,” as prosecutors read the list of charges against him, said Williams’ attorney, Michael McGuire.
About 30 audience members also objected when prosecutors asked that all the defendants be held without bail, McGuire said.
The preliminary hearing was continued until July 28 to give defense attorneys time to acquire police reports and collect evidence. Two defendants--minors who recently were ordered to stand trial as adults--were added to the case Monday.
Haines, 32, was surrounded by a mob April 30 as he rode with his nephew to the aid of a friend in a riot-ravaged neighborhood of Long Beach. Haines was beaten, robbed and shot once in the head. His nephew, 26-year-old Scott Coleman, was shot three times but survived.
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