Mistrial Declared in Case of Alleged Stepfather Slaying
Orange County Superior Court Judge Cecil Hicks declared a mistrial in the case of a Fullerton man accused of robbing and killing his stepfather and then fleeing to Phoenix, officials said Thursday.
“The jurors could not reach a unanimous verdict,” Deputy Dist. Atty. Carolyn Kirkwood said. “We’re going to try it again.”
Frank Pina, 40, has pleaded not guilty to charges he shot his stepfather, Edward Tobin, 66, in the head in Tobin’s Fullerton mobile home in July 1995. Pina is also accused of robbing Tobin of money and jewelry, then fleeing the area in the victim’s car.
Deputy Public Defender Tim Severin has maintained that Pina shot his stepfather accidentally during an argument that followed years of verbal abuse.
Jurors deadlocked late Wednesday afternoon. A new trial date might be set later this month.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
