Mother Can’t Use Assets in Her Murder Defense

Socorro “Cora” Caro, charged with murdering three of her four sons, lost her bid Friday to immediately liquidate family property and investments to pay for her defense.

Family law attorney Rand Pinsky said the ruling by Ventura County Superior Court Judge John. R. Smiley means Caro, 42, will probably have to ask that a public defender be appointed to represent her.

“I’m disappointed,” said Pinsky, who urged Smiley to release a portion of the family assets so his client could retain Encino criminal law attorney Richard Plotin, who has represented her for the past four months.

But that request was bitterly opposed by Dr. Xavier Caro, who filed for divorce after his wife allegedly shot and killed three of their children on Nov. 22, 1999, at the family’s five-bedroom Santa Rosa Valley home.

The house, valued at about $900,000, as well as two Northern California properties and an investment account, are among the assets tied up in the divorce case. Lawyers say it could take months, if not years, to resolve.

Cora Caro’s lawyers say they need at least $300,000 to represent her in the murder case--and they want payment up front, a common practice in criminal cases.

Pinsky raised the payment issue about two months ago and Smiley agreed to make some assets available, such as an antique doll collection, jewelry and some land owned by Cora Caro and not her husband.

But the judge refused to liquidate any of the couple’s community property in the divorce case, telling family law attorneys he needed additional information about the Caros’ assets. After gathering some of those records, Pinksy renewed the request.