Man to Face 2nd Trial in Girlfriend’s 1988 Death
A 39-year-old Downey man accused of killing his girlfriend more than 10 years ago will face a second murder trial in March, authorities said Thursday. A jury failed to reach a verdict in the first trial last month.
Deputy Dist. Atty. Scott Carbaugh told a Norwalk Superior Court judge Wednesday that he will again prosecute the case against Gary Wayne Ames, said Ames’ lawyer, Deputy Public Defender Luis Rodriguez. Judge Patrick Couwenberg set the new trial for March 4.
Ames is accused of stabbing Constance Phillipy to death in the couple’s Downey apartment in 1988. After a weeklong trial in December, jurors were split 8 to 4, Rodriguez said.
Rodriguez said the district attorney’s office twice rejected the case against Ames before filing murder charges last year, despite having no new evidence. He added that a deputy coroner testified at December’s trial that Phillipy’s wound could have been self-inflicted.
Carbaugh could not be reached for comment.
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