2 Members of ‘Family’ Avoid Murder Trial

A Los Angeles Superior Court judge on Thursday dismissed murder charges against two defendants in the “Bryant Family” drug-ring case because of insufficient evidence, following a general review of high-profile cases by Dist. Atty. Gil Garcetti and his staff, Garcetti’s office said.

“Basically, it’s a matter of new eyes looking at this very serious and complex case,” said Sandi Gibbons, a spokeswoman for the newly elected Garcetti, who took office Dec. 7. “It was determined by the executive staff, after thoroughly going over the cases, that there was insufficient evidence to continue to try Ms. Curry or Mr. Newbill on the charges we dismissed today.”

At the request of the prosecution, Superior Court Judge Lance Ito then dropped all charges against Tannis Bryant Curry, 30, and dismissed charges of murder and conspiracy to commit murder against Nash Newbill, 56, Gibbons said.

Curry and Newbill had each faced four counts of murder and conspiracy to commit murder, their attorneys said.

“I think they should have done this a long time ago,” said Albert De Blanc, attorney for Newbill.

De Blanc said he will continue to fight to prove Newbill’s innocence on charges he still faces, including aiding and abetting those who committed murder, conspiracy to distribute and sell drugs and one count of attempting to dissuade a witness from testifying.

De Blanc said Newbill’s trial on the remaining counts will probably take place in late January.

Deputy Dist. Atty. Janice L. Maurizi, lead prosecutor on the case, had no comment.

The decision to drop the murder charges because of insufficient evidence stemmed from a series of meetings held over the past few days by Garcetti, his executive staff and prosecutors, Gibbons said. Garcetti and his staff plan to review other important cases with prosecutors over the next few weeks to determine whether they should go to trial, she said.

Gibbons declined to elaborate on the discussions surrounding Newbill and Curry.

She said discussions are continuing, but would not comment on whether charges may be dropped against other defendants in the Bryant case.

Steven C. Flanagan, attorney for Curry, said he was not surprised by Thursday’s development. “It’s basically the same evidence we’ve had for the past four years,” Flanagan said. “The only major change is . . . in the district attorney, in that it’s Garcetti now and not Reiner.”

Flanagan said he has advised Curry to consider filing a civil suit because she spent a year in custody and faced the possibility of life in prison without parole had she been convicted of murder.