CHP Murder Suspect Goes to Court Heavily Guarded

A phalanx of heavily armed marshals escorted Hung “Henry” Thanh Mai into a courtroom here Tuesday to face charges that he murdered CHP Officer Don Burt.

Orange County marshals, some armed with shotguns, lined the hallways, stood by in the courtroom and watched from the roof, as Mai was led before Judge Daniel T. Brice in Municipal Court in Fullerton.

The marshals were reacting to worries that someone might try to free or even kill Mai, who was arrested last week in Houston. Someone identifying himself as a Fullerton police official called the Houston city jail shortly after Mai’s arrest and ordered him released. Jail officials prepared Mai to be set free, but stopped short of releasing him.

Mai was flown secretly from Houston on Monday by a chartered jet to John Wayne Airport, where he was met by a dozen heavily armed Fullerton officers.

Brice postponed Mai’s arraignment until Aug. 9. He ordered Mai held without bail and appointed a defense attorney.

The judge granted a request by Deputy Public Defender Hector Chaparro to bar cameras from Mai’s hearing.

Chaparro said it was possible that authorities arrested the wrong man. Before Mai’s arrest, police mistakenly apprehended a 32-year-old Buena Park man.

“I think it’s essential that everything be done that can be done to protect Mr. Mai’s rights,” Chaparro said.

Mai was already wanted in Anaheim in an aggravated assault investigation. He has been convicted of forgery, escape, weapons violations, burglary and assault with a deadly weapon.

Burt, 25, was shot seven times July 13 after a routine traffic stop of a BMW in Fullerton. The killer took off in Burt’s CHP cruiser and abandoned it 7 miles away in Anaheim.

Police found a sheaf of phony travelers’ checks in the trunk of the BMW.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.