Haun Judge Disallows Some Dally Remarks

Jurors in the murder trial of Diana Haun will not hear certain statements co-defendant Michael Dally made to authorities after his wife’s disappearance and death last year, a judge ruled Monday.

Prosecutors wanted to admit as evidence a number of statements that Dally made to Ventura police detectives and the Ventura County Grand Jury during indictment hearings nearly a year ago.

They cited a statement Dally made to the grand jury in which he denied hatching a plan to kill his wife while vacationing with his lover, Haun, in Cancun, Mexico.

In response to a question by the district attorney, Dally told the grand jury that he could not recall talking to Haun about killing his wife.

Prosecutors said that statement was a “very telling” response that the jury should be allowed to hear because most people would remember if they ever had such a conversation.

Jones disagreed, telling prosecutors: “That is not a jump that either the jury or this court should make.”

Jones said the jury could hear other statements, however, including remarks Dally allegedly made about how much a divorce would cost and how much insurance money he could collect if his wife died.

Defense attorneys for Haun argued that many of Dally’s statements are irrelevant to Haun’s case and therefore should not be admitted at her trial.

“There is no suggestion that this statement was communicated to Diana Haun,” Deputy Public Defender Neil B. Quinn said of one remark about divorce. “I don’t see the relevance.”

But prosecutors argued that the remarks support their theory that Dally and Haun plotted the murder of his wife, Sherri, and then tried to cover up the crime.

Jones told prosecutors they could use the statements at trial.

Jury selection in the case is scheduled to continue today.