Williams Subpoenaed in Police Shooting Trial
Los Angeles Police Chief Willie L. Williams has been ordered to testify in Ventura County Superior Court as a witness in the case of a Reseda man charged with murder for his role in a deadly gunfight with an elite police unit last year.
Defense attorneys for Robert Wayne Cunningham, 33, served Williams with a subpoena last week.
Gary Windom, a Ventura County senior deputy public defender, said Williams was at the scene of the shootout for 2 1/2 hours after two officers in the LAPD’s Special Investigations Section were shot.
But Deputy Los Angeles City Atty. Debra L. Gonzales said she has no idea why Williams had been sought to testify, and asked the judge presiding over the murder case to quash the subpoena.
Rather than argue the matter in court, however, Superior Court Judge Steven Z. Perren told Windom to file papers explaining the subpoena and postponed a hearing until next week.
Windom has previously said he planned to investigate the actions of the SIS unit as part of his defense. The special police unit has drawn criticism for allowing suspects--while under surveillance--to commit crimes before arresting them.
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