Prosecutors Want Klaas Trial Held in San Jose
The prosecution formally asked Tuesday that the murder trial of the man accused of killing 12-year-old Polly Klaas be moved to San Jose.
In court documents, prosecutors claimed that the move to Santa Clara County would be less costly and more convenient for witnesses than a trial in Southern California.
Richard Allen Davis, 41, is accused of kidnaping Klaas from the bedroom of her Petaluma home on Oct. 1, 1993. Her body was found about two months later near Cloverdale.
Santa Clara was one of four counties considered for the trial; Fresno, Los Angeles and San Diego counties were the others.
“The further the trial is moved from Sonoma County, the greater amount of time the witnesses will be away from work, home and their families,” Assistant Dist. Atty. Greg Jacobs said.
Defense lawyers Barry Collins and Lorena Chandler had said they prefer San Diego or Los Angeles. Neither attorney could be reached for comment late Tuesday.
A hearing to determine the new location was scheduled for Thursday. Superior Court Judge Lawrence Antolini ordered the trial moved out of Sonoma County because of pretrial publicity.
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