Tuffree Pleads Not Guilty in Slaying of Simi Police Officer : Courts: The teacher is charged in the death of Michael Clark after a gun battle last month. His lawyers argue he fired in self-defense.

High school teacher Daniel A. Tuffree denied Monday that he had murdered a Simi Valley police officer, who died of a gunshot wound on Tuffree’s patio after a brief gun battle more than a month ago.

Tuffree, wearing a light blue dress shirt and dark blue slacks as he did at his court appearance last week, pleaded not guilty to a charge of murder, two counts of attempted murder and four counts of assault during his brief arraignment in Ventura County Municipal Court.

His lawyers have argued that Tuffree fired in self-defense when Officer Michael A. Clark began shooting at him Aug. 4.

A preliminary hearing is set for Sept. 28, when prosecutors will try to convince a judge that they have enough evidence to try Tuffree. The charges would make him eligible for the death penalty, but prosecutors have not decided whether they will ask a jury to send him to Death Row.

Save for a bandage on his right hand, Tuffree appeared to have recovered from several bullet wounds he sustained in the shootout.

In contrast to his previous court appearances, Tuffree stood erect, appeared well-groomed and answered questions directly and coherently while animatedly conferring with his two court-appointed attorneys.

Through his attorneys, he even complained about the scheduling of his court appearances, which Municipal Judge John E. Dobroth continues to set at 3 p.m.

Tuffree said he is brought from jail with other prisoners in the morning and must sit in a holding cell adjacent to the courtroom with nothing to do for up to four hours on his court days.

Dobroth said he schedules Tuffree’s court appearances late in order to finish his daily calendar of routine arraignments and misdemeanor cases before his courtroom is overrun with reporters and photographers jockeying to get a view of the bearded, bespectacled, 48-year-old suspect.

Dobroth said he would ask the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department if Tuffree could be taken to court later in the day.

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Tuffree’s complaints didn’t sit well with Clark’s family, who gathered in the front row of the courtroom for Monday’s hearing.

“We are a little perturbed that his attorneys are asking for special circumstances for him,” said Thelma Maitland, Clark’s aunt. Maitland sat with Clark’s father and widow--all wearing six-inch buttons emblazoned with the uniformed Clark’s image on their chests. The slain officer’s family has missed only one of Tuffree’s three court appearances and has vowed to be present at every one through the trial.

Frederick Clark, who moved from Colorado to live with Maitland in Simi Valley after the death of his 28-year-old son, said that Tuffree’s denial of the charges Monday did not surprise him. He declined to comment further.

Tuffree’s attorneys also continue to argue that the Simi Valley police and county prosecutors are reticent in turning over vital evidence to the defense. But prosecutors contend they have turned over everything they have received.

Simi Valley Police Chief Randy Adams declined to comment on the allegations.

Dobroth is scheduled Wednesday to rule on a motion compelling the Simi Valley police to talk to defense attorneys without the presence of prosecutors.