Judge Urges Caution in Pursuit of Death Penalty in Slaying

A Vista Superior Court judge asked the district attorney’s office Tuesday to question whether it wants to proceed with the death penalty against a man accused of killing a jeweler during a botched robbery.

Judge J. Morgan Lester said he is not suggesting that the prosecutor in the case take one path or another.

But Lester told Deputy Dist. Atty. Michael Kirkman that “it would be a fair request for you . . . to take a solid look at the sea of support that is here in this courtroom and another detailed analysis of the background of LaTwon Weaver.”

About 60 friends and family members of Weaver appeared at the bail review hearing Tuesday where Lester made his remarks. Weaver, a 24-year-old from Inglewood with no prior criminal record, is accused of killing Vista jeweler Michael T. Broome on May 6.

Deputy Public Defender Jeffrey Martin said he was surprised by Lester’s candidness.

“I was impressed, and I did not expect him to make statements like that on the record,” Martin said.

Ray Weaver Sr., Weaver’s father and a pastor at an Inglewood church, said Lester “showed deep concern for what is right and fair,” adding that he couldn’t fathom why the district attorney would pursue the death penalty against his son.

Linda Miller, a spokeswoman for the district attorney’s office, said, “We don’t make decisions on charging the death penalty based on the person’s popularity . . . really, it’s how heinous the crime was.”