Attempt to Bar Press From Triple-Murder Trial Fails

The attorney defending a Santa Rosa Valley mother charged in the shooting deaths of three of her four children failed Monday in an unusual bid to bar the press from reporting on her opening statement.

Assistant Public Defender Jean Farley contended that disclosure of her statement would prompt certain witnesses to lie as jurors hear the case of Socorro “Cora” Caro, who is charged with three counts of first-degree murder.

But Judge Donald D. Coleman, who is to hear opening statements in Ventura County Superior Court on Wednesday, ruled that he has no authority to keep reporters out.

“The courthouse and its courtrooms are open to the public,” he said.

Farley’s motion was opposed by attorneys representing the Los Angeles Times and the Ventura County Star.

“Defense counsel makes these requests in an ill-conceived effort to control the outside world as she presents her opening statement,” Times attorney Jean-Paul Jassy wrote in response to Farley’s motion. He went on to cite state and federal court decisions affirming the concept of open trials.

“The speculative fear that witnesses may lie does not outweigh the 1st Amendment,” he argued.

Caro, 44, originally pleaded not guilty, later amending her plea to not guilty by reason of insanity.

Prosecutors contend that she shot her three older sons, ages 3 to 11, as they slept. Her youngest son, now 3, was unharmed and is living with her husband, Xavier.

In pretrial hearings, the defense contended that Xavier Caro committed the crimes and made it appear as if his wife had done so. He has denied the allegations and has never been considered a suspect.

Opening statements in the case will last most of Wednesday. During the prosecution’s remarks, jurors will be shown a five-minute computer-animated video purporting to illustrate the deaths of two of the Caros’ sons.

At a hearing in May, defense lawyers vigorously opposed allowing the jury to view the video, which will accompany the testimony of a criminologist. On Monday, Farley insisted that the video not be played during the prosecution’s opening statement. Coleman allowed it, but cautioned prosecutors that failure to lay a legal basis for it during testimony could result in a mistrial.

In another decision Monday, Coleman rejected Farley’s plea to have the prosecutors--Deputy Dist. Attys. James Ellison and Cheryl Temple--thrown off the case.

Farley contended that the two had not been forthcoming with evidence and had been needlessly hostile toward her. Coleman concluded that neither attorney had acted improperly.